SEND Network Ltd

Warning Signs if you're currently a SENDCo.

1) An increase in parental complaints.

2) Data concerns for students with needs, including persistent absence, behaviour, academic outcomes.

3) An increase in parental requests for EHCP assessment.

4) An increase in requests to refer to NHS.

If you applying to another school the list above can form the basis of questions to ask and so can the list below.

Solutions: 👇

1) How often does SEND feature on the CPD calendar?

2) How embedded are reasonable adjustments across departments and the school?

3) How much ring fenced time do I have to be a SENDCo?

Being strategic also requires SLT support. ✔

We frequently discuss concepts like equity, diversity, acceptance, and belonging in educational settings and while these terms are often used interchangeably, each represents something distinct and essential.

🍰 Equality means offering identical resources to all students.

🍰 Diversity acknowledges the rich variety of backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives students bring to our classrooms.

🍰 Equity involves tailoring support to meet each individual learner's unique needs.

🍰 Acceptance recognizes and values the different ways students process information, communicate, and demonstrate understanding.

🍰 Belonging fosters spaces where every student feels genuinely valued, secure, and celebrated as their authentic self.

Among these, belonging often receives the least attention yet it serves as the cornerstone for meaningful learning.

When students experience true belonging, they're empowered to take intellectual risks, voice their questions, and push beyond their comfort zones.

Students who feel they belong don't simply show up. They invest themselves. They share their voices. They thrive.

As educators, administrators, and advocates, our mission extends beyond distributing equal opportunities.

We must creative environments where learners feel genuinely welcomed, adequately supported, and completely free to embrace their education without fear of judgment or unfavourable comparison.

Let's continue working toward classrooms where belonging isn't aspirational, but fundamental.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0792n8673o

The real test isn't the policy on paper, it's what happens when budgets get squeezed in 12-18 months. Schools are already stretched thin. Let's hope this doesn't become another case of good intentions meeting financial reality.

Absorbing council Send debts won't hit school budgets, ministers say The government says the Office for Budget Responsibility's projections do not take into account upcoming reforms.

Important AI Safety Update for Schools 🏫

OpenAI's CEO has announced ChatGPT will become more "human-like" - using emojis, displaying personality, and eventually including adult content for verified users.

Why schools should be concerned.

1: More human-like AI could blur boundaries between educational tools and emotional dependency.

2: Adult content features create serious filtering and safeguarding challenges

3: Current school AI policies may not address these risks

4: Accidental data leaks remain a significant concern

Our recommendation:
Schools should move away from ChatGPT and use education-specific platforms like Gemini (Google Workspace for Education) or Copilot (Microsoft 365 for Education).

These come with proper safeguarding, data protection, and admin controls designed for school environments.

AI can be powerful for learning - but not all AI is built for schools.

Let's prioritise safety and educational value over novelty.

Imagine a school system where every child left knowing their strengths and talents inside out.
The tragedy isn’t that children struggle with the curriculum.
It’s that the curriculum is out of date preparing them for a world that’s already disappeared.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15kwv30007o

SEND funding in the UK is inadequate. Any new system will only work if it’s properly resourced.

Keep EHC plans for special educational needs, MPs say Concerns grow over the government's plans to reform special needs education in England.