SEND News
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
On 14th May 2019 Ofsted published the results of their consultation on the new Education Inspection Framework, and the final framework and handbooks.
The full report, the new framework and the new handbooks can be found here.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) speech
On Friday 3 May, the Secretary of State for Education spoke at NAHT’s annual conference. The Secretary of State's speech reiterated the importance of mainstream schools meeting pupils’ special educational needs, but acknowledged the resource pressures:
- • “There is one area of funding that I want to directly address now – the support that we give for children with special educational needs and disabilities… This isn’t some distraction from teaching. This is teaching. Helping vulnerable children learn is at the centre of the moral purpose that brought you into the profession… Supporting these children in mainstream schools where possible and where it is right for that child, is the right thing to do, as is increasing the amount of personalised support available in all settings to help them achieve great outcomes. But it is creating budgetary pressures….
- • That means that this year we have invested over £6 billion in education for children with complex SEND. But I’m under no illusion - this may not be enough. This is a growing, complex issue, and I want to work with you to solve it. Part of that is of course about funding. And it’s also about changing needs. When I’ve spoken to teachers recently, they’ve told me that it’s not just the volume of support that has gone up. It’s also that the needs that vulnerable young people have – and the support that they require – is changing. This too is increasing pressures. So I need your front-line expertise – to properly understand what is driving these pressures, where the funding system is working, and where it is not.
- • That’s why today I’m announcing a call for evidence, to gather your views and make sure everyone can input. I know schools and teachers can’t do this alone, which is why I’m encouraging others who have a crucial role supporting these vulnerable children, including local authorities and health services, to join the conversation too. This evidence is important. We need a system that works for these young people. And we should be unequivocal – that our ambition for them is exactly the same as our ambition for every other child. That they achieve their full potential.”
- Written by: Brian Lamb
- Written by: Brian Lamb
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The DfE has today published the April 2019 SEND newsletter
It can be found here: document April 19 SEND Newsletter
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The government's Education Technology (EdTech) strategy, Realising the potential of technology in education has just been published by the Department for Education. The new strategy highlights the opportunities of technology (including the power of assistive technologies to support increased function, motivation, independence and access to learning) and is the Department's first step in supporting the education sector to overcome the barriers to embedding technology in an effective and efficient manner.
It sets a number of 'EdTech challenges' to industry, the education sector and academia to prove what is possible and inform the future use of EdTech across our education system. They are designed to support a partnership between the EdTech industry and education sector to ensure product development and testing is focused on the needs of the education system.
To support the challenges, the DfE will establish:
- A series of innovation competitions
- A small testbed of schools and colleges to support the development, piloting and evaluation of technology
- Leading demonstrator schools and colleges, which will build on existing good practice in the sector to exemplify how these technologies can be used to best effect.
One of these challenges is to "identify the best technology that is proven to help level the playing field for learners with special educational needs and disabilities."
To help steer the work of this challenge and to help drive the agenda forward DfE will be convening a group of leading assistive technology developers and education experts.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Government’s consultation on the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England was launched earlier this month.
Details of the consultation can be found on gov.uk here: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3-and-below-in-england. There are also two accompanying ad hoc statistical releases which can be found online here:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/students-and-qualifications-at-level-3-and-below-in-england
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-gcse-qualifications-in-england-key-stage-4-entries-and-absence-and-exclusions-outcomes
This intention of this review, alongside the development of T Levels, is to build a world class technical education system. The review is an opportunity to develop a qualifications system where every student, including those with SEND, benefits from high quality qualifications that help them realise their talents and achieve their career ambitions.
As you will see, questions cover a wide range of topics which are particularly relevant from a SEND point of view, and on which the comments of you and your colleagues will be very welcome.The consultation includes questions about qualifications generally, and also at level 3, level 2 and level 1 and below.
The consultation is open for 12 weeks and will close on 10 June 2019.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Regional Stakeholder Network
The Regional Stakeholder Network will bring the views of disabled people, local disability organisations, and organisations that represent disabled people closer to government. Through its 9 groups across England it will create face to face forums and provide a channel for people to share their views about policies and services that affect them.
The government are looking for Chairs to lead and drive the efforts of their group forward, and Members to share their views and experiences to help government make improvements. Further details and how to apply are on the website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/seeking-chairs-and-members-for-the-new-disability-regional-stakeholder-network
The 9 regional groups across England are:
- North West
- North East
- Yorkshire and the Humber
- West Midlands
- East Midlands
- South West
- South East
- East of England
- Greater London
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