A familiar story is unfolding: of lofty aims undermined by meagre budgets, constant anonymous briefing – and a drive to remove families’ basic rights, says Guardian columnist John Harris
Our webinar 'Appealing to the SEND Tribunal' walks you through essential guidance, resources and practical tips to help you navigate the appeals process.
If you haven’t received your child's amended EHC plan by this date, you can write to your local authority using our template letter on the link above ⬆️
Note: if your child is transferring from secondary school to a post-16 institution this year, the deadline for their EHC plan to be reviewed and amended is 31 March. ... See MoreSee Less
📢 Are you a professional working with children or young people with SEND in Wirral?
Make sure you're legally up to date with your responsibilities in EHCP Reviews by joining our FREE expert-led online training with public lawyer Steve Broach KC.
👩🏫 Designed for Education, Health, and Social Care professionals, this session will support you to carry out lawful and effective review processes.
📅 Monday 23rd March 2026 🕤 9:30am–12:30pm | 💻 Online | 📍 Open to Wirral-based professionals
Children’s Mental Health Week is a reminder of how important it is that every child and young person feels supported, understood and able to thrive emotionally.
For disabled children and young people, or those with additional needs, mental health can be affected by many things, including access to the right support, experiences in education, health needs, sensory challenges, and feeling different or misunderstood.
If you’re worried about your child or young person’s mental health, these organisations offer trusted information and specialist support:
YoungMinds offers advice and support for children, young people and parents: f.mtr.cool/liyrsqlxpj
Mind offers information, guidance and local mental health services: f.mtr.cool/pmrirwamci
Beat offers support for eating disorders, including help for families: f.mtr.cool/pnxocgigyp
And because children’s wellbeing is closely connected to the wellbeing of the adults caring for them, support for parent carers matters too.
At Contact, we’re here to support the whole family. We offer:
💬 Listening Ear - a chance to talk things through with someone who understands life as a parent carer: f.mtr.cool/trlenrfrru 📞 Our free information & advice helpline - providing information and advice on education, benefits, health and social care (Call 0808 808 3555): f.mtr.cool/hpbfhvruvi
Looking after your own wellbeing isn’t separate from supporting your child, it’s part of it 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
At CDC we know that we are stronger and have a bigger voice if we are together. The CDC membership is a collection of over 400 voluntary or community organisations that represent the various facets of the SEND and Alternative Provision sector. By becoming a member, organisations will have the opportunity to actively participate in shaping policies, share best practice, and advocate for positive changes that directly impact the lives of disabled children and young people and those with SEN. CDC membership is free and provides access to a network of over 400 organisations across the sector, as well as resources and opportunities for collaboration and learning. Benefits of becoming a CDC member include:
- Access to the CDC members online forum which provides the opportunity for peer-to-peer support on challenges and solutions, best practice, and information and resource sharing. - Networking opportunities to connect with professionals, policymakers, and other organisations in the field. - Access to a wealth of resources including a monthly newsletter, quarterly digest and news alerts. - Direct updates from the Department for Education. - Invitations to join CDC working groups.
I fear that Labour’s special needs revolution will instead be a catastrophic letdown | John Harris ... See MoreSee Less
I fear that Labour’s special needs revolution will instead be a catastrophic letdown | John Harris
ow.ly
A familiar story is unfolding: of lofty aims undermined by meagre budgets, constant anonymous briefing – and a drive to remove families’ basic rights, says Guardian columnist John HarrisWebinar: Appealing to the SEND Tribunal - practical hints and tips ... See MoreSee Less
Webinar: Appealing to the SEND Tribunal - practical hints and tips
ow.ly
Our webinar 'Appealing to the SEND Tribunal' walks you through essential guidance, resources and practical tips to help you navigate the appeals process.Reeves urged to reassure MPs over public finances amid £6bn-a-year Send costs ... See MoreSee Less
Reeves urged to reassure MPs over public finances amid £6bn-a-year Send costs
ow.ly
City analysts say financial market investors will be worried if cost is deducted from budget surplusParents and carers 📣
Does your child have an EHC plan? Are they transferring from one of the settings listed below this year?
Your local authority is required to review and amend your child’s EHC plan by 15 February. You can find more information on our website: www.ipsea.org.uk/moving-to-a-new-phase-of-education-with-an-ehc-plan
If you haven’t received your child's amended EHC plan by this date, you can write to your local authority using our template letter on the link above ⬆️
Note: if your child is transferring from secondary school to a post-16 institution this year, the deadline for their EHC plan to be reviewed and amended is 31 March. ... See MoreSee Less
Send provision leaving deprived areas of England ‘trailing behind’, report finds ... See MoreSee Less
Send provision leaving deprived areas of England ‘trailing behind’, report finds
ow.ly
Ex-education secretaries urge change as data shows special educational needs spending rising fastest in wealthy areas📢 Are you a professional working with children or young people with SEND in Wirral?
Make sure you're legally up to date with your responsibilities in EHCP Reviews by joining our FREE expert-led online training with public lawyer Steve Broach KC.
👩🏫 Designed for Education, Health, and Social Care professionals, this session will support you to carry out lawful and effective review processes.
📅 Monday 23rd March 2026
🕤 9:30am–12:30pm | 💻 Online | 📍 Open to Wirral-based professionals
🔍 Topics include:
Legal duties in Annual Reviews
Interim & Transition Reviews
Reassessments & Preparation for Adulthood
Best practice & professional responsibilities
🔗 Book your FREE place now: bit.ly/4lVJ3nu
📞 0151 522 7990 | 📧 ias@wired.me.uk
#SENDProfessionals #EHCPReviews #SENDLaw #WirralSEND #ProfessionalTraining #EHCP #WiredSupport ... See MoreSee Less
Children’s Mental Health Week is a reminder of how important it is that every child and young person feels supported, understood and able to thrive emotionally.
For disabled children and young people, or those with additional needs, mental health can be affected by many things, including access to the right support, experiences in education, health needs, sensory challenges, and feeling different or misunderstood.
If you’re worried about your child or young person’s mental health, these organisations offer trusted information and specialist support:
YoungMinds offers advice and support for children, young people and parents: f.mtr.cool/liyrsqlxpj
Mind offers information, guidance and local mental health services: f.mtr.cool/pmrirwamci
Beat offers support for eating disorders, including help for families: f.mtr.cool/pnxocgigyp
And because children’s wellbeing is closely connected to the wellbeing of the adults caring for them, support for parent carers matters too.
At Contact, we’re here to support the whole family. We offer:
💬 Listening Ear - a chance to talk things through with someone who understands life as a parent carer: f.mtr.cool/trlenrfrru
📞 Our free information & advice helpline - providing information and advice on education, benefits, health and social care (Call 0808 808 3555): f.mtr.cool/hpbfhvruvi
Looking after your own wellbeing isn’t separate from supporting your child, it’s part of it 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
English secondary schools must offer inclusion areas for neurodiverse and Send pupils ... See MoreSee Less
English secondary schools must offer inclusion areas for neurodiverse and Send pupils
ow.ly
Special spaces are a key part of government’s planned overhaul of special educational needs supportAt CDC we know that we are stronger and have a bigger voice if we are together. The CDC membership is a collection of over 400 voluntary or community organisations that represent the various facets of the SEND and Alternative Provision sector.
By becoming a member, organisations will have the opportunity to actively participate in shaping policies, share best practice, and advocate for positive changes that directly impact the lives of disabled children and young people and those with SEN.
CDC membership is free and provides access to a network of over 400 organisations across the sector, as well as resources and opportunities for collaboration and learning.
Benefits of becoming a CDC member include:
- Access to the CDC members online forum which provides the opportunity for peer-to-peer support on challenges and solutions, best practice, and information and resource sharing.
- Networking opportunities to connect with professionals, policymakers, and other organisations in the field.
- Access to a wealth of resources including a monthly newsletter, quarterly digest and news alerts.
- Direct updates from the Department for Education.
- Invitations to join CDC working groups.
For more information and to apply, please visit: buff.ly/peYY28P ... See MoreSee Less
schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-dfes-orders-to-councils-as-send-reforms-quietly-begin/ ... See MoreSee Less
DfE quietly orders councils to begin SEND reforms locally
schoolsweek.co.uk
Whitehall tells councils not to wait for the white paper or further info on deficits to get startedReform-led Worcestershire set to issue England’s largest council tax rise ... See MoreSee Less
Reform-led Worcestershire set to issue England’s largest council tax rise
ow.ly
Cap-busting tax hike will be embarrassing for the party, which has made low council tax a priorityChildren with special needs in England will keep current support, minister says ... See MoreSee Less
Children with special needs in England will keep current support, minister says
ow.ly
Georgia Gould reassures parents that no child will be asked to leave school or have levels of assistance removedKeir Starmer’s next steps: what hurdles must the prime minister now negotiate? ... See MoreSee Less
Keir Starmer’s next steps: what hurdles must the prime minister now negotiate?
ow.ly
Top aide’s resignation may buy PM time, but coming weeks bring events that could yet end his time in officeRising Send costs will ‘bankrupt’ four in five English local authorities, leaders say ... See MoreSee Less
Rising Send costs will ‘bankrupt’ four in five English local authorities, leaders say
ow.ly
Councils call on ministers to write off special educational needs and disability deficits that are predicted to reach £14bn in 2028