Recruitment data from four-county study suggests external SEND staff are being used to provide ongoing pupil support rather than simply short-term cover 20 October 2026 – Primary schools are using almost 12 times more external SEND support than secondary schools, according to new recruitment data that highlights the growing role agency staff are playing in…
More than six in ten mainstream primary school staff (61%) lack confidence that their school’s buildings and outdoor spaces can accommodate more pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) without major changes, according to a new report. With more than one in five pupils in England now identified as having special educational needs, schools…
Nearly 56,000 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are expected to miss school this September despite being enrolled, an analysis of YouGov data has found. According to polling commissioned by Ambitious about Autism, 3% of parents of children with SEND did not expect them attend school this September, despite being enrolled. This equates…
While many families look forward to summer, hot weather can present unique challenges for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Higher temperatures, disrupted routines, changes to sleep, unfamiliar clothing, increased sensory discomfort and spending more time indoors can all contribute to feelings of overwhelm or dysregulation. Here, Lisa Spann, Managing Director at Fledglings,…
On education funding, SEND and parental complaints Mark Blois, Partner in education, said: “Our School Leaders Survey paints a candid picture of a sector that remains frustrated with government policy. While sentiment has improved during Labour’s second year, this comes from a low bar with only one in five school leaders actually satisfied. That is…
For the first time young people on HMRC’s Supported Internship programme offered opportunities across civil service. New partnership with HM Courts and Tribunal Service means young people with special educational needs in Liverpool have access to wider workplace learning. HMRC Supported Internship programme provides young people with special educational needs workplace experience in Liverpool, Manchester…
Nine in 10 respondents to a survey of school and trust leaders representing more than half a million pupils in England believe the government’s proposed special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms will add to their workload. Some 76% of those who took part in UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson’s spring 2026 School…
Specialist Classrooms ‘Not Keeping Up’ with Pace of SEND Demand in the UK A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by modular school building solutions provider Portakabin has suggested that while Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) demand is increasing rapidly across the UK, specialist classrooms are not being delivered throughout the nation at the…
Guests at The Cavendish School’s autism and education event heard that building confidence, promoting self-advocacy and decoding the world should be core to autism education. The annual event, held on 10 April, explored the future of educating autistic students amidst the ongoing SEND education reform in England. In her presentation, Stephanie Smith, Head of…
Rachel Barrett, Head of Academies, Duncan & Toplis It’s a well-known fact that underlying financial pressures pose a constant challenge in the education sector – and this is particularly true for academy trusts which manage their own finances. But according to the Kreston Academies Benchmark Report 2026, things are looking up. At first glance, the…
Top 500 secondary schools take in a lower proportion of pupils eligible for both free school meals and SEN support than live in their catchment area. 41% of primary and secondary school leaders think some schools actively discourage applications from pupils with SEND, and this rises to 50% of leaders in schools with the highest…
Former Education Secretary, Baroness Morris, urges comprehensive training for teachers on acquired brain injury (ABI) Coalition of brain injury charities led by UKABIF calls for better data collection and targeted support for children and young people with ABI The UK Acquired Brain Injury Form (UKABIF) – the UK’s umbrella body for brain injury –…
More than half (57%) of parents in the UK are not confident the government’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) overhaul will improve outcomes for their children in practice, according to a new survey from Explore Learning, the UK’s largest independent tuition provider. The research reveals that 84% of parents fear planned restrictions to Education, Health…
At Big Creative Education (BCE), we welcome the government’s recognition of the challenges within the SEND system and the commitment to increasing funding for education providers and local authorities. Many young people require support in class and this is something we take very seriously at BCE. Half of our young people, talented creatives, have SEND,…
Lisa Spann, Managing Director at Fledglings, shares practical advice to help families maintain stability at home as SEND provision in schools set to receive a £4 billion boost 25/02/2026: As national reforms to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision continue to develop across England, with a £4bn overhaul announced, many families are following updates…
Yesterday, as the Government unveils its long-awaited SEND White Paper, education experts at Momenta Connect are calling for the Government to listen to responses to the white paper consultation and provide clear guidance on how we will build this brave new vision for SEND. The SEND system in England is considered “broken” by many, with…
The UK Government says it will introduce national price bands and strengthened standards for independent special schools in the upcoming schools white paper. As part of its wider reforms to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), it has pledged to tackle “spiralling fees”, with funds redirected from the private to public sector….
Lisa Spann, Managing Director at Fledglings, reveals key ways parents can help children with SEND feel supported and regulated as routines shift during the spring months. As the days grow longer and the seasons begin to change, spring can bring fresh challenges for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). From lighter evenings and…
Academy21, a leading provider of high-quality online alternative provision, has launched a new podcast series that delves into what it truly means to learn, teach, and lead in today’s complex education landscape. The Academy21 Podcast brings together voices from across the sector — from school leaders and teachers to parents and innovators to discuss the…
MYTIME Young Carers is calling for urgent national reform after new analysis reveals a staggering shortfall in the number of young carers identified by schools across England, with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at particular risk of slipping through the cracks. Published during Learning Disability Awareness Week, the MYTIME report shows that:…
18 June 2025: Environment Bank, the leading off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) provider, has supported Gloucestershire County Council to meet BNG planning requirements for a vital new all-through special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school. The £19.5 million state-funded school will open in January 2027, offering up to 200 places for primary and secondary…
Dr Rebecca Lawton, Director of Quality and Compliance, Outcomes First Group, questions whether pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are truly at the heart of Ofsted reforms? Tom Rees, Chair of the DfE Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion, has emphasised that changes to the Ofsted inspection framework, aim to put the focus on…
Academy trusts in England continue to face growing financial pressures, with rising staff costs and demand for special educational needs (SEND) provisions among the key challenges for the sector, according to a report published by Kreston UK, a leading global network of accounting firms. The 13th annual Kreston UK Academies Benchmark Report, encompassing the 2023/2024…
The British Science Association (BSA) has released an adapted version of an existing CREST Award resource, ‘Design and make a pizza box’, to make it more accessible for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Developed in collaboration with SEND expert Rob Butler, Projects Lead at the Association for Science Education (ASE), the…
More than four in five (84%) school leaders in England are dissatisfied with the Government’s support for special educational needs and disability (SEND) pupils, according to a survey by UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson. Some 94% are dissatisfied with SEND funding – including 72% being very dissatisfied – with just 5% and 2%…
