SEND News
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Following the publication of the government's Disabled Students’ Allowance’s Non-Medical Help call for evidence in April 2024, they have today shared the findings:
https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/non-medical-support-for-disabled-students-in-higher-education
The DSA team thank NatSIP partners for their participation and for promoting the call for evidence, which has enabled them to continue to develop their understanding of the non-medical help system. They will use these findings to inform any next steps.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The DfE has today published new guidance for school governing boards on SEN and Disability.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sen-and-disability-duties-guidance-for-school-governing-boards/special-educational-needs-sen-and-disabilities-guidance-for-school-governing-boards
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
New school statistics for England have been published today along with EHCP SENII figures for all ages.
https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england
and for Education Health and Care Plans;
- Written by: Ian Noon
Please see information below published today on the new Department for Education guidance on mobiles phones.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-in-schools
The guidance essentially advises schools to develop a policy to prohibit the use of mobiles phones in schools. The guidance is non-statutory.
The guidance helpfully reminds schools of the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils and highlights that some pupils may require access to mobile phones for reasons relating to their disability.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
On the occasion of her retirement as CEO of the Council for Disabled Children, Dame Christine Lenehan delivered a Valedictory lecture to guests at an event on Monday evening in Westminster.
A video is available here.
National Children's Bureau CEO, Anna Feuchtwang, alluded in her opening remarks to the National Children’s Bureau’s 60th anniversary, and the interactive timeline of NCB’s work over the last 60 years that they have produced. You can access the interactive timeline here.
You may also be interested in the interview that Christine did with Woman’s Hour on the day of her speech. You can access that here. The feature highlighted a Disabled Children’s Partnership report on the challenges facing the SEND tribunal system.
- Written by: Brian Lamb
School census figures have been published today:
https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england
Headlines are;
Over 1.5 million pupils in England have special educational needs (SEN)
An increase of 87,000 from 2022. Both the number of pupils with an education, health and care (EHC plan) and the number of pupils with SEN support have increased:
- The percentage of pupils with an EHC plan has increased to 4.3%, from 4.0% in 2022.
- The percentage of pupils with SEN but no EHC plan (SEN support) has increased to 13.0%, from 12.6% in 2022.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/29/message-to-the-education-and-care-sector-on-send-reform-from-the-secretary-of-state-for-education-gillian-keegan/
- Written by: Brian Lamb
Ofsted has published their response to the consultation and new guidance. It is summarised with links in a commentary by Amanda Spielman here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hmci-commentary-publishing-our-new-area-send-framework
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