After the disgraceful news that the Government has "already decided" on its plans for curbing the role of the SEND Tribunal, our co-Director, Gill Doherty, has this to say—don't miss this, it's important. Sign up for our legal roundtable webinar: linkthread.eu/specialneeds... youtu.be/y-xUrm2kKX8
IPSEA echoes our own concerns about the SEND proposals—we’re astonished that some other disabled children’s charities seem to think loss of rights is just dandy… SEND reforms must strengthen legal rights, not weaken them - schoolsweek.co.uk/send-refor...
image shows a sepia colourised trojan horse image
On SNJ Today: A close look at the Government's proposed “Specialist Provision Packages” reveals they're a Trojan horse, reducing the #EHCP rights of children with SEND. And we're not completely sure they realise it...
www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...
post title with a picture of Melissa and Jessica inset into a composite image with the proposals cover and scales of justice
On SNJ Today: The Schools White Paper's #SEND consultation is being legally challenged by a parent carer, who claims the plans are an “irrational & unfair” fundamental change significantly weakening children's legal rights. @catrionamoore.bsky.social explains: www.specialneedsjungle.com/l...
image shows long steps upwards with the consultation at the top colourised in mauve
On SNJ Today: We have some advice for answering the 39-step Schools White Paper SEND consultation from @captaink77.bsky.social and @tanialt.bsky.social. They'll use AI—should you? If you need additional help, do let us know. www.specialneedsjungle.com/3...
image shows fingers places letters spelling out “make it easy” colourised in green
NEW POST: When “Easy Read” isn’t easy: @sharonlsmith.bsky.social asks why a consultation impacting disabled children and young people is set up to risk excluding them… www.specialneedsjungle.com/e...
SNJ's @renatawatts.bsky.social explains the government's proposed Specialist Provision Packages and how and where they fall apart—and who misses out. Find our article on this here: www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...
More leaks- and we'd rather not comment but we know others will and we want to ensure parents do not panic or worry unnecessarily. We’ll be analysing the White Paper when it's out so stay tuned.
#SEND #EHCP #SaveOurChildrensRights
With a white paper expected within weeks, leaks to national newspapers offer only a piecemeal glimpse at what might happen with SEND reform.
But in the background, local officials have been quietly instructed to start the wheels in motion now for a reformed system…
schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-dfe...
If drastically restricting EHCPs was always a cornerstone of the govt's SEND plans, why didn't it make the case in all the "listening" events and long months of putting up kites & briefing? If/when this move is in the white paper, it'll all look risibly cynical
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Is this really why Labour MPs think they were elected: to strip some of the most vulnerable children in the country of their right to a decent start in life?
My @theipaper.com column on looming SEND reforms inews.co.uk/opinion/pare...
"A Labour Government headed by a human rights lawyer wants to protect councils that fail to meet their legal responsibilities to some of the nation’s most vulnerable young people. It wants to do so by ending the statutory right of parents to challenge wrongful decisions made by faceless officials."
Ministers have repeatedly refused to answer direct questions about retaining legal rights. The context for the reforms is reducing costs. Organisations that represent children’s rights have been sidelined. Sadly you are wrong about DfE.
I am engaging in good faith. My son has Down syndrome, has an EHCP and attends a mainstream secondary school. Without the provision in his EHCP he wouldn’t be able to attend school safely, let alone be included and learn. I’m genuinely terrified of the government’s proposals. Have a good evening.
And this is the problem. Not listening to parents and teachers. I urge you to speak to Helen Hayes and the Education Select Committee and to read their inquiry report.
Because they know this about cutting rights and costs and they are afraid of the response? Leaks as a way of testing the reaction?
Would be quite the move for such a fragile govt to try to take away the rights of some of the most put-upon, stonewalled (and very driven & tenacious) people in the country liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/419...
And yet the minister made claims about co-creation. It’s pretty clear from the repeated failure to answer direct questions that disabled children’s rights are in the firing line. Very grateful to the NEU for making their position clear.
Neither parents nor teachers support the government’s policy.
www.specialneedsjungle.com/national-edu...
Even in the most optimistic reading, it will take long years to begin to turn everyday SEND provision around. It's a 15 year story of decay, at least. In the meantime, rights & redress are all hundreds of thousands of families have. If they are taken away on promises, people will fight. Ends.
Fair enough. Please speak to Helen Hayes and the Ed Select Committee and also to IPSEA and SOSSEN.
As an MP shouldn’t you have an opinion now and be engaging on policy direction? Parents are terrified and disabled children and young people are about to lose their rights.
The white paper is due to be released a couple of weeks after the national “conversation” (everyone literally on mute) ended. It was already written.
The department is supposed to engage with a wide range of stakeholders - and particularly the most disadvantaged and marginalised. Excluding people with learning disabilities and those who represent rights is not ok.
This is a repeat of the PIP nonsense. And you’re right we don’t prefer that model.
Happy to set up a meeting if you would like to understand what’s really happening. All those supporting disabled children’s rights have been blocked.
From the leaks it appears that rights will be removed for most disabled children. Do you support that?
Rubbish. Most of those involved in the SEND development group are reliant on funding from DfE. The whole thing is a stitch up.
This isn’t true. DfE engaged with local authorities and only at the end of lady year engaged in a fake conversation. Parents were literally on mute in the online events. The easy read version was released a week before the deadline and DfE refused to extend it
Latest from me, and one of the most important pieces on Special Needs I've written so far: "In fifteen years of political journalism, I don’t think I have seen anything quite like this: a mad game of briefing, counter-briefing and official stonewalling."
maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
