This series covers both residential and mainstream education.Government Guidance: Planning and Assessment for Special Educational Needs (2007) In October 2007 NAHT advised members that in order to take a proactive part at national level as well as local level, we needed to be informed if local authorities were proposing to restructure / reorganise their special educational needs provision. At that time....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=3Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:57:53 GMT20080425115753Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:57:53 GMT20080425115753Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:57:53 GMT20080425115753Speech, language and communication services for children and young people must improve. The work on this review is ongoing an interim review issued 20 March 2008, stated that over 2000 people had responded to the consultation. The point was made that although government invested measures to address children&8217;s speech, language and....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=4Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:59:27 GMT20080425115927Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:59:27 GMT20080425115927Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:59:27 GMT20080425115927NAHT has regular meetings with Hardip Begol and his colleagues, as well as being part of joint union meetings. If you would like a particular issue raised, please contact Jan Myles (janm@naht.org.uk), who will try to ensure that it is addressed at the next meeting.http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=14Wed, 28 May 2008 13:37:09 GMT20080528013709Wed, 28 May 2008 13:37:09 GMT20080528013709Wed, 28 May 2008 13:37:09 GMT20080528013709The SEN Committee met on 14th May, when a packed agenda illustrated just how much is happening in the SEN and disability world at the moment. Items covered included: Alan Steer&8217;s Advisory Group This is a new group set up to consider the progress made since &8216;Learning Behaviour&8217; was published in 2005. John Troake, Head of a High School in S. Croydon, has been nominated to be NAHT&8217;s representative on the Group. The Bercow Review John....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=15Wed, 28 May 2008 14:47:17 GMT20080528024717Wed, 28 May 2008 14:47:17 GMT20080528024717Wed, 28 May 2008 14:47:17 GMT20080528024717Published this month is a White Paper on alternative forms of provision, including Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). Its title is &8216;Back on Track &8211; a strategy for modernising alternative provision for young people.&8217; Local Authorities will be invited to run 10 pilots to test a range of models over the next 3 years.http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=16Wed, 28 May 2008 14:48:06 GMT20080528024806Wed, 28 May 2008 14:48:06 GMT20080528024806Wed, 28 May 2008 14:48:06 GMT20080528024806The following Motion, proposed by NAHT&8217;s SEN Committee, received the full support of members who attended the Annual Conference in Liverpool at the beginning of May: While welcoming the steps taken by Government to increase the opportunities for school leaders and their teams to develop their skills in working with pupils who have increasingly complex needs, Conference asks Government to explain how the 3-tiered approach outlined in its SEN Strategy will be met in full.....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=17Wed, 28 May 2008 14:49:59 GMT20080528024959Wed, 28 May 2008 14:49:59 GMT20080528024959Wed, 28 May 2008 14:49:59 GMT20080528024959As well as the IDP, the DCSF has funded 3 Trusts. Two of these have had websites for some time and are already producing information and materials. They are: The Communication Trust (www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk) and the Autism Education Trust (www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk). The other Trust will be known as The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust. Its website, www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk , is due to be up and running shortly.http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=18Wed, 28 May 2008 14:50:31 GMT20080528025031Wed, 28 May 2008 14:50:31 GMT20080528025031Wed, 28 May 2008 14:50:31 GMT20080528025031The materials for the 1st year of this 4 year programme, covering Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Dyslexia, are now available. Local Authorities are responsible for delivering the DVD to each of their schools and the materials can also be downloaded from www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk Under the joint banners of NAHT and Nasen, Rona Tutt and Tricia Barthorpe gave a seminar on the IDP at the Education Show in Birmingham. They are also providing training when requested to....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=19Wed, 28 May 2008 14:51:24 GMT20080528025124Wed, 28 May 2008 14:51:24 GMT20080528025124Wed, 28 May 2008 14:51:24 GMT20080528025124Some of us attended NAHTs Education Conference in Kenilworth, which combined the sector conferences for the first time. This created opportunities to be together, as well as retaining parts of the conference where we could concentrate on issues relevant to each sector. The disadvantage was that the change of date from November to October meant that it clashed with 2 other SEN Conferences. This is being looked at for next year.http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=63Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:20:55 GMT20081119102055Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:20:55 GMT20081119102055Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:20:55 GMT20081119102055In the last few months, there has been such a tidal wave of activity that it is hard to keep up with it all. Here are some of the recent developments: 1. Bills and Acts Although the Autism Bill is on hold at the moment, the SEN Information Bill has been passed and so is now an Act. This means that information will be collected annually on the provision available in different areas and the progress made by pupils with different kinds of needs. 2. Consultations The consultation on....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=64Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:24:16 GMT20081119102416Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:24:16 GMT20081119102416Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:25:29 GMT20081119102529At its meeting in October, the committee heard from Phil Snell, who described the steps that were being taken to implement the training promised in the governments SEN Strategy, Removing Barriers to Achievement. Phil reported that SEN and Disability modules have been piloted for those taking the undergraduate routes to QTS, and that similar units will be produced for PGCE students. He also spoke about the Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) which was mentioned in the previous Blog. The....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=65Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:25:04 GMT20081119102504Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:25:04 GMT20081119102504Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:25:04 GMT20081119102504As those of you who read the October Blog will be aware, the last few months have seen an unprecedented outpouring of documentation from the DCSF and elsewhere. This tidal wave shows no signs of reducing. So, between now and the end of term, this Blog, as well as welcoming contributions on SEN-related matters from any member at any time, will be used to give a synopsis of the most significant documents. This should help you decide whether or not you need to use up your printer ink running....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=68Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:12:56 GMT20081124111256Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:12:56 GMT20081124111256Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:12:56 GMT20081124111256A year ago, the government announced that there would be a Review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. An Interim Report, Improving the mental health and psychological well-being of children and young people, was published in July this year and Children and young people in mind: the final report of the National CAMHS Review, appeared last month. There has been some confusion about the terminology, as CAMHS is often taken to mean Child and Adolescent Mental Health....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=74Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:03:45 GMT20081209100345Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:03:45 GMT20081209100345Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:03:45 GMT20081209100345No sooner had the Education and Skills Bill become an Act, than another Education Bill appeared, this time cunningly disguised under the title: Children, Skills and Learning Bill. This includes the following headlines: Increasing apprenticeships Establishing children&8217;s centres on a legal basis Ditto for Children&8217;s Trust Boards Creating a National Pay Body for support staff Recording acts of physical restraint Increasing the powers to....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=76Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:53:05 GMT20081219115305Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:53:05 GMT20081219115305Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:58:08 GMT20081219115808As we move into a new year, the deluge of documentation shows no sign of abating. It seems that we have hardly had time digest the 170 pages of The Children&8217;s Plan, when December brought the 230 pages of The Children&8217;s Plan One Year On: a progress report. This mentions: The CAMHS Review and how some of the recommendations are being carried forward, including the setting up of a National Advisory Council to champion children&8217;s mental health and....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=82Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:13 GMT20090112100013Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:13 GMT20090112100013Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:02:43 GMT20090112100243Croner&8217;s 4th Annual SEN and Disability Conference took place in London recently. Eileen Visser HMI, who has responsibility for inclusion among her other duties, mentioned Ofsted&8217;s forthcoming Review of SEN. Although it does not begin until April, evidence is being collected now and she invited anyone who wishes to do so to write in with their views. Her email address is: Eileen.visser@ofsted.gov.uk . NAHT is due to meet her shortly. Tricia Murphy (nee Barthorpe)....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=89Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:46:26 GMT20090202104626Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:46:26 GMT20090202104626Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:46:26 GMT20090202104626SEN Committee On 12th February, NAHT&8217;s SEN Committee held its termly meeting. One of the items on the agenda was the updating of the Association&8217;s Policy on The Inclusion of Children and Young People with SEN and Disabilities. This Paper will be put to Annual Conference when it meets in Brighton at the beginning of May. If passed, it will supersede and combine the 2 existing policies on SEN and on Special Schools. Visitors to the Committee were Chris Beek and Ann....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=96Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:15:04 GMT20090224101504Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:15:04 GMT20090224101504Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:15:04 GMT20090224101504As many members will be aware, the long awaited Ofsted Review of SEN is about to begin. NAHT took the opportunity to hold an early meeting with Eileen Visser, HMI, on Tuesday 10th March, who will be heading the Review. Although some of the finer and final details of the Review have yet to be made public, it is clear that it will run for a year from April 2009. It is likely to look at how to make the system work better rather than revolutionising it, in order to produce better outcomes for....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=105Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:37:36 GMT20090319113736Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:37:36 GMT20090319113736Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:37:36 GMT20090319113736The Autism Education Trust held its 1st National Conference in London on 26th February. The event was extremely well attended and NAHT was represented. Perhaps some came out of curiosity to hear Sarah McCarthy-Fry, the newish Minister for SEN, who replaced Lord Adonis in the most recent reshuffle. Although the Minister does not have a wealth of experience in the field, she spoke of being &8220;extremely passionate&8221; about outcomes for all children, including those on the autistic....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=106Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:38:31 GMT20090319113831Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:38:31 GMT20090319113831Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:38:46 GMT20090319113846In March 2006, Andrew Adonis, who, at that time was the Minister for SEN and Disability, announced that the DFES (as it was then) would provide &163;150,000 as start-up funds to create a national body to represent special schools. From this, the Federation of Leaders in Special Education (FLSE) was born. On 19th March, FLSE held its first National Conference at the Central Hall in London. The conference was opened by Gerry Gamble, Chair of FLSE. The main speaker was Sarah....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=117Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:45:48 GMT20090417114548Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:45:48 GMT20090417114548Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:49:00 GMT20090417114900On Friday 3rd March, Clarissa Williams, National President and Rona Tutt, Past President, had a fascinating visit to 3 schools. Escorted by the indefatigable Branch Secretary for Guernsey, Dave Boalch, in the morning they visited Stampsons High School and Les Murier School, a splendid new building that incorporates a mainstream secondary and a special secondary school, providing plenty of opportunities for students to share facilities and resources. In the afternoon, there was a visit to....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=118Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:49:51 GMT20090417114951Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:49:51 GMT20090417114951Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:49:51 GMT20090417114951This was a lively event with the Secretary of State with us in person and the Motion on whether or not to ballot to boycott key stage 2 SATs (every other avenue having been explored first). In addition, Paul Williams, Chair of NAHT&8217;s SEN Committee, put forward a Motion highlighting the need for NAHT to work with the DCSF in developing an assessment system that is capable of measuring the achievements of all pupils including those with SEN and disability (SEND). This was carried....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=128Fri, 29 May 2009 12:51:20 GMT20090529125120Fri, 29 May 2009 12:51:20 GMT20090529125120Fri, 29 May 2009 12:51:20 GMT20090529125120Following on from the Interim Report in February this year, Sir Alan has now completed his final report, &8216;Learning Behaviour: Lessons Learned.&8217; This is a sizeable piece of work with 47 recommendations. These include: Recommendation 5 That the DCSF should work with the Professional Associations to review the current policy overload, so that there is &8216;a limited and coherent set of policy documents.&8217; ....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=129Fri, 29 May 2009 12:52:24 GMT20090529125224Fri, 29 May 2009 12:52:24 GMT20090529125224Fri, 29 May 2009 12:52:24 GMT20090529125224Following on from NAHT&8217;s meeting in March with HMI Eileen Visser, who is leading the SEND Review, in April the Association was represented at the first of a series of meetings to gather evidence from stakeholders. This was held in the imposing surroundings of the Holborn Bars, not far from Ofsted&8217;s HQ. Eileen was present at the session, which was led by Janet Thompson. She said that Ofsted would focus on how well the current system is working. Inspectors are particularly....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=130Fri, 29 May 2009 12:53:47 GMT20090529125347Fri, 29 May 2009 12:53:47 GMT20090529125347Fri, 29 May 2009 12:53:47 GMT20090529125347The IDP is now in its 2nd year, with this year&8217;s focus being on the autism spectrum. The DVD is much better than last year&8217;s one on speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and dyslexia, both in layout and in content. So, if you were put off by the difficulty in finding your way round the first DVD, rest assured that the second one really is much easier to follow. To take some of the hard work out of it, NAHT is running some courses on the first 2 years of the programme.....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=131Fri, 29 May 2009 13:08:18 GMT20090529010818Fri, 29 May 2009 13:08:18 GMT20090529010818Fri, 29 May 2009 13:08:38 GMT20090529010838This meets next on Thursday 4th June, when the items to be discussed include: The Steer Report The Laming Report The Lamb Inquiry (update) Progression Guidance and Achievement for All Projects NAHT&8217;s Education Conference. The latter will be held on 5th and 6th November at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth. As last year, there will be 3 strands running through the programme: Primary, Secondary and SEN. Members can dip in and out of the various strands....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=132Fri, 29 May 2009 13:10:00 GMT20090529011000Fri, 29 May 2009 13:10:00 GMT20090529011000Fri, 29 May 2009 13:10:00 GMT20090529011000You may be already aware that Ofsted has recently said that special schools and PRUs are likely to be inspected every 3 years regardless of the outcome of previosu inspections. As this was not made clear in the revised Framework issued last month, NAHT has taken this up with Ofsted. The response has been that the June version of the Framwork was a Draft and the final version will be out by the end of this month. Further details will appear on the NAHT website shortly.....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=158Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:50:01 GMT20090717025001Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:50:01 GMT20090717025001Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:55:05 GMT20090717025505The Association tries to meet with Hardip Begol of the SEN and Disability Department at the DCSF on a regular basis. The meeting on Monday 21st September was attended by Paul Williams (chair of the SEN committee), Jan Myles (HQ assistant secretary with responsibility for SEN &8211; and much else) and Rona Tutt (past president and SEN consultant). This was the first time that we had been given an hour and a half with Hardip present on his own throughout. The agenda covered: ....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=190Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:24:05 GMT20090930042405Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:24:05 GMT20090930042405Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:24:05 GMT20090930042405The focus on improving behaviour continues. After the various reports from Sir Alan Steer, at the end of September the DCSF published: Delivering the behaviour challenge: Our commitment to good behaviour, and Working together for good behaviour in schools &8211; Information for parents and carers. The first of these includes a reminder that the new Ofsted framework is getting tougher on behaviour. In paragraph 6 it says: &8216;A school will not normally be rated good overall if it is....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=222Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:57:15 GMT20091116095715Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:57:15 GMT20091116095715Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:58:45 GMT20091116095845NAHTs&8217; SEN Committee met on Wed 13th Jan and is now the SEND Committee. Some members were still snowbound in N. Ireland, Wales and the worst hit parts of England. Since we last met in November at NAHT&8217;s Education Conference, Brian Lamb&8217;s final report has appeared: Lamb Inquiry &8211; special educational needs and parental confidence (December 2009), which can be found at www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications. If you don&8217;t have time to read the whole thing, the first....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=248Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:15:32 GMT20100125101532Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:15:32 GMT20100125101532Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:15:32 GMT20100125101532The Salt Review: Independent Review of Teacher Supply for Pupils with Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (SLD and MLD) waslaunched by Ed Balls on Friday 5th March. The recommendations are grouped under these headings: Recruitment and Retention: Raising the profile of teaching SLD / PMLD Improving the supply pipeline and workforce Initial Teacher Training Improved clarity of....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=263Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:25:47 GMT20100309092547Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:25:47 GMT20100309092547Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:26:48 GMT20100309092648Last month saw an outpouring of SEND documentation, some of which may be affected by the disappearance of chunks of the Children, Schools and Families Act and any change of government!Happily, the implementation of the Salt Review and the CLDD Research Project should be unaffected. Implementation Plan for the Salt Review Following on from the launch of The Salt Review: Independent Review of Teacher Supply for Pupils with Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=282Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:44:53 GMT20100419104453Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:44:53 GMT20100419104453Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:48:10 GMT20100419024810With a Coalition Government and at a time of significant financial restraint, it is hard to know exactly what is likely to happen to the outcomes of all the Inquiries, Reviews and Reports that were begun under the previous government. NAHT will have its first opportunity to consider the position when the SEND Committee meets on Wed 9th June. When the Association held its Annual Conference in Liverpool over the early May bank holiday, all 3 Education Spokesmen (as they were at the time)....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=314Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:03:12 GMT20100601100312Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:03:12 GMT20100601100312Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:03:12 GMT20100601100312NAHT&8217;s SEND Committee (09.06.10) At the first meeting after Annual Conference, Paul Williams was re-elected as Chair and Tony Newman as Vice Chair. Both elections were unanimous. The Committee heard from 2 visitors. The first was Garry Steele, CEO of FLSE, who gave us an update on his organisation and discussed ways in which we might work together in the future, including the possibility of having an SEN Summit. The other was Philippa Stobbs, who had hoped....http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/resources/blogs/special-needs-blog/?blogpost=343Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:36:13 GMT20100716123613Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:36:13 GMT20100716123613Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:36:13 GMT20100716123613