Details of this steering group, which brings together government departments with representatives for parents, schools, colleges and early years, local government, health and care and independent experts to advise and help conclude the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Review can be found through this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/send-review-steering-group

On 20 July 2021, DfE SEND division confirmed that they would be continuing the extended powers given to the SEND Tribunal to hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations about health and social care aspects of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, provided those appeals also include education elements. These extended powers were being tested under a National Trial, which ended on 31 August 2021.

The guidance has now been updated https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-powers-send-tribunal-national-trial ‘SEND tribunal: single route of redress national trial’ to remove references to the National Trial and explain that the extended powers will continue, providing details on how appeals which include health and social care aspects (now known as extended appeals) work.

This guidance is intended for all local authorities, health commissioning bodies and parents and young people in England.

 

The Department for Work and Pensions today published the National Disability Strategy.
It can be accessed through this link:
 
 

Improving the lives of autistic people is the focus of a new multi-million pound strategy launched by the government today. 

Backed by nearly £75 million in the first year, it aims to speed up diagnosis and improve support and care for autistic people. The funding includes £40 million through the NHS Long Term Plan to improve capacity in crisis services and support children with complex needs in inpatient care. It also includes £600,000 to fund training for staff in early years settings, schools and colleges, to improve the experience of autistic children in the education system and prepare them for adulthood.  

The five year strategy was developed following engagement with autistic people, their family and carers. It will support autistic children and adults through better access to education, more help to get into work, preventing avoidable admissions to healthcare settings, and training for prison staff to better support prisoners with complex needs.  

This strategy will align with wider government work through the National Disability Strategy and the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) review. The government will ensure issues relevant to autistic people are considered as part of these programmes of work. 

This strategy’s accompanying implementation plan will lay the foundations in the first year, for what the government aims to achieve over the course of the next five years. It will be refreshed in subsequent years, in line with future Spending Reviews.  

 

DfE Special Educational Needs and Disability Division has today confirmed,' we will be continuing the extended powers given to the SEND Tribunal to hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations about health and social care aspects of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, provided those appeals also include education elements.

These extended powers are currently being tested under a National Trial, which began in April 2018. The Trial will end on 31 August 2021 and the powers will continue.  

Our ambition is for every child, no matter what challenges they face, to have access to a world-class education that sets them up for life. It will enable the Tribunal to continue to take a more holistic view of the needs of the child across education, health and care while the cross-government SEND Review completes its important work.' 

Full details of this announcement have been published on the Department for Education section on the GOV.UK website here:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-powers-send-tribunal-national-trial

 

Government data for SEND in England was released on 24 June:
 
 
Within the overall picture;
 
  • The percentage of pupils with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan has increased to 3.7%, continuing a trend of increases since 2017.
  • The percentage of pupils with SEN but no EHC plan (SEN support) has increased slightly, from 12.1% to 12.2%, continuing an increasing trend.

With reference to Sensory Impairment:

  • Number of pupils with HI at SEN is down slightly with EHCP's up slightly.
  • Number of pupils with VI at SEN support and with EHCPs both up slightly.
  • MSI up slightly on both categories.
A new Ofsted Report on SEND and a commentary by Amanda Spielman commentary were published on 16th June 2021
A report about the experiences of children and young people with SEND and their families during the pandemic, in the context of the SEND reforms over the last 10 years.
Amanda Spielman discusses the current challenges in the SEND system and the part Ofsted can play in driving improvements.

OFSTED have produced a new report on SEND based on case studies from a number of schools which can be accessed at; 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-send