Earlier this week the government announced support to transform education and opportunities for the most disadvantaged children and young people, including those with SEND.
Package to transform education and opportunities for the most disadvantaged
' On 1 February, the government announced a package to level up education and opportunities. In particular, we wanted to outline what this offer means for children and young people with SEND.
New funding for respite and Supported Internships will come alongside more than £45 million of continued targeted support for families and parents of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These programmes will:
· target support to improve monitoring, support and intervention for local authorities and local health and care partners’ delivery of statutory SEND services, with a focus on underperforming areas and sharing best practice
· improve participation and access for parents and young people for high quality advice and support; and
· directly support schools and colleges to effectively work with pupils with SEND, for example through training on specific needs like autism.
You can read the full press notice here:
Supported internships
We are investing up to £18 million over the next three years to build capacity in the Supported Internships programme, aiming to double the number of Supported Internships to give more young people with an Education Health and Care Plan the skills to secure and sustain paid employment. We have also worked with stakeholders across the sector to update our Supported Internship Guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-internships-for-young-people-with-learning-difficulties, to support education providers and employers to deliver quality internship placements for young people across the country. You can see how the Supported Internship programme has benefitted Saul, who works at Stepping Hill Hospital, in this video:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vpuuoit9hcvlsf8/SEND%20internship.mp4?dl=0
Respite funding
Councils will be funded £30 million for the next three years to set up more than 10,000 additional respite placements, helping to provide positive opportunities for disabled children and young people and to give family carers a break so they can look after vulnerable children better in the long-term.
You can read more about both programmes via this blog from Children and Families Minister Will Quince:
Case studies to support attendance in specialist settings
We would also like to take this opportunity to update you on case studies about supporting attendance in specialist settings.
Case studies: specialist settings managing to keep learners in education even with high staff workforce absences
As you are aware, ensuring face-to-face, high-quality education for all pupils and students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is a priority. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances, mental and physical health.
We understand the pressures that all educational settings have been facing due to the new Omicron variant in keeping learners in attendance. This has been particularly difficult for specialist settings, which are currently facing huge challenges as a result of workforce member absences.
To help specialist settings to maintain high levels of attendance, we have published case studies (link below) of specialist settings sharing their experiences with some ideas and solutions that have worked for them to stay open and keep their learners in attendance.'