News

Keep up to date with all of the latest news, headlines and features from across the SEND sector.

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News listing

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Children with Autism respond well to puppets

New research from ‘Yale Child Study Center’ demonstrates that puppets can hold the attention of children with autism, raising the potential for developing more engaging therapies.

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A-level Results 2021

The A-level results based on Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) were released today and, unlike last year, they appear to have been well received by students and parents.

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nasen Live is next month! Are you joining us?

For many SEND and education professionals, next month’s nasen Live 2021 conference will be one of the first opportunities they have had to come together and share learnings as we look to the future after the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Exclusion Data released

The statistics on permanent exclusions and suspensions for the academic year 2019/20 have been released by the Department for Education.

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Update to Mental Health First Aid training for primary schools

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that the proposed rollout of the mental health first aid training to primary schools, due to be completed by 2022, is not to be implemented.

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Free audiobooks via Amazon Alexa

Amazon Alexa has teamed up with the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s Talking Books service to offer access to thousands of books for free.

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NICE consultation on draft guidelines on disabled children and young people with severe complex needs

NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has issued draft guidelines for consultation. Based on the principles in the SEND Code of Practice (2015) they are designed to support professionals.

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National Disability Strategy issued

The Department of Work and Pensions has issued the disability strategy which sets out the Government’s vision to improve the everyday lives of disabled people.

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New National Strategy for Autistic Children, Young People and Adults 2021-2026

The government today issued the new national strategy for improving the lives of autistic people and their families and carers in England, and the implementation plan for year one.

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DfE confirms SEND Tribunal powers to be made permanent

The DfE confirmed that the powers for SEND tribunals to hear appeals and make non-binding decisions concerning Health and Social care sections of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) provided there is an education aspect, are to be made permanent.

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New EEF Research on Cognitive Science

The EEF has released a new review of the evidence on cognitive science approaches in the classroom.

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SEND Review – no definitive timescale for publication    

The eagerly awaited SEND Review, delayed due to COVID, would appear to be subject to further delays.

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nasen Live 2021 agenda released!  

We are delighted to this week launch the agenda, for our flagship SEND conference, nasen Live 2021,  which is due to take on the 24th September 2021.

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Recommendations for mental health provision in NHS for autistic people and people with learning disabilities

Families met at Downing Street to discuss the treatment of autistic children and children with learning disabilities with mental health needs whilst under the care of the NHS with the Health and Social Care Committee.

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Quantifying learning loss for pupils in special schools and colleges

A new report by ASK Research, suggests that those pupils with EHCPs attending special schools and colleges have experienced between 4 to 5 months’ worth of learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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nasen Awards deadline extended to showcase breadth of SEND best practice 

The deadline for entries to the fifth annual nasen Awards has been extended by a week, to further encourage the brilliant breadth of best practice across the SEND sector.

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Communication skills of 1.5 million children knocked back by national lockdown

A new report from the children’s communication charity I CAN estimates that more than 1.5 million UK children and young people risk being left behind in their language development – a direct result of lost learning due to the COVID-19 period.

Have Your Say - 2022 Examination Arrangements Consultation Announced

Exams are going to be going ahead next year as ‘normal’ with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson stating that “Exams will always be the fairest way to assess students”.

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Ofsted chief wants young people with SEND to be ‘front and centre of education recovery’

Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, gave a speech on Friday looking back at the effect of the pandemic on children and especially those who have been last on the national priority list that have borne the brunt.

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Consultation on the National Funding Formula

A consultation has been announced today into the government approach on reforms to the National Funding Formula (NFF) and the plans to transition away from local formulae to all schools’ funding allocations being determined directly by the NFF.