Wednesday
Don’t remove the legal rights of children with SEND
The SEND system is in need of reform but restricting children’s access to support through EHCPs isn’t the answer, warns IPSEA’s Catriona Moore
School-readiness data won’t be available to the public
Headteachers’ leaders had previously warned against the new targets becoming ‘another stick to beat schools with’
Tuesday
Absence fines are ‘Dickensian’, MPs told
Experts today answered Commons committee’s questions about addressing low school attendance – here’s what we learned
Revealed: government contact time proposal rejected by councils
Scottish government wanted ‘initial reductions in contact time’ in time for the start of the 2025-26 school year – but councils rejected the plans
Fix basic literacy before promoting reading for pleasure
The government’s priority should be helping the many pupils who are behind with their reading – and we know exactly how to do it, writes FFT’s Mike Fischer
Ministers urged not to dilute rights of children with SEND
Campaign launched amid concerns that government reforms could end education, health and care plans
Board named for inquiry into white, working-class pupils’ education
The inquiry, commissioned by Star Academies, brings together leaders from across national and local government, schools, trusts and colleges
Friday
SEND: DfE looking at where pupils’ needs should be met in new system
Government SEND adviser Dame Christine Lenehan says a decision on the future of education, health and care plans is still to be made
Is a drive to stop bad practice missing from the inclusion agenda?
Leaders call for scrutiny of admissions, pupil movement and the impact of sanctions on students with special educational needs and disabilities
Thursday
SEND: DfE Safety Valve deals ‘were a sticking plaster’
DfE report says bailout deals saved some councils from bankruptcy, but that system leaders warn reform and investment is needed
DfE flags ‘major’ risk of SEND cost pressures
And five other key points from the Department for Education’s annual report
Faster school population fall means 400,000 fewer pupils by 2030
New data shows both primary and secondary schools will start to feel the impact of declining pupil numbers from 2027 – far earlier than previously thought
