SEND & BEYOND Weekly Briefing - 15 August 2025
- sharron508
- Aug 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 7
{"type":"HTML","id":"9ojwx403","nodes":[],"htmlData":{"containerData":{"width":{"custom":"940"},"alignment":"CENTER","spoiler":{},"height":{"custom":"3627"},"textWrap":true},"html":"<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html lang=\"en\">\n<head>\n<meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n<link href=\"https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Lato:wght@400;700&family=Montserrat:wght@600;800&display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n<style>\n body {\n background-color: #FAF9F6;\n font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif;\n color: #0A2E36;\n line-height: 1.6;\n padding: 20px;\n }\n h1, h2 {\n font-family: 'Montserrat', sans-serif;\n color: #4DB6AC;\n }\n h1 {\n font-size: 2em;\n margin-bottom: 10px;\n }\n h2 {\n font-size: 1.4em;\n margin-top: 30px;\n }\n a {\n color: #F9A825;\n text-decoration: none;\n font-weight: 600;\n }\n a:hover {\n text-decoration: underline;\n color: #d68f00;\n }\n ul {\n padding-left: 20px;\n }\n li {\n margin-bottom: 6px;\n }\n strong {\n font-weight: 700;\n }\n hr {\n border: none;\n border-top: 2px solid #4DB6AC;\n margin: 30px 0;\n }\n .affiliate-images {\n display: flex;\n gap: 20px;\n flex-wrap: wrap;\n align-items: flex-start;\n margin-top: 10px;\n }\n .affiliate-images img {\n width: 250px;\n height: auto;\n border-radius: 8px;\n border: 2px solid #4DB6AC;\n }\n</style>\n</head>\n<body>\n\n<h1>SEND & Beyond Weekly Briefing – 15 August 2025</h1>\n<p><em>Accountability, integration, and safer schooling.</em></p>\n\n<h2>1) “Lies, inadequate fines… and councils still breaking SEND law” (Special Needs Jungle)</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/lies-inadequate-fines-councils-dont-care-breaking-send-laws-ehcps/\" target=\"_blank\">Read full article at Special Needs Jungle →</a></p>\n<p><strong>P.S.</strong> We published a deeper dive on this yesterday — this is the quick take for our newsletter readers.</p>\n<p>SNJ reports families being misled about Annual Reviews. Weak or unused sanctions leave some local authorities under little pressure to meet their legal duties.</p>\n\n<p><strong>SEND & Beyond Take:</strong><br>\nThis isn’t a “broken parents” problem; it’s a governance and accountability issue. If your review is overdue or appears “phantom,” note the dates. Request evidence of the review and escalate in writing. Schools can assist by logging missed deadlines. They should circulate a “duty & deadline” tracker for each child so nothing quietly slips through the cracks.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Do Now:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask for your child’s <strong>EHCP Annual Review timeline</strong> and minutes in writing.</li>\n<li>If none exist, request an immediate review date with updates on Sections A, F, G, and H.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<hr>\n\n<h2>2) Integrating therapies <em>in</em> lessons boosts inclusion post-16 (Special Needs Jungle)</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/integrating-therapies-education-innovation-inclusion-disabled-students/\" target=\"_blank\">Read full article at Special Needs Jungle →</a></p>\n<p>A Natspec Innovation Award case study shows that embedding Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) and physiotherapy into timetabled teaching reduces lost learning and improves outcomes.</p>\n\n<p><strong>SEND & Beyond Take:</strong><br>\nProvision should be delivered, not just listed. Embedding SaLT and physiotherapy into subject lessons reduces lost learning time. It helps students apply skills in context. For both mainstream and special schools, co-plan schemes of work with therapists. Use short, repeated targets embedded in routines. Track dosage and impact termly.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Do Now:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>In your next review, ask for the <strong>delivery model</strong> to be explicit. For example, “SaLT will co-teach 1 hour/week in English; TA will run 3×10-min daily practice; outcomes will be measured each half-term.”</li>\n</ul>\n\n<hr>\n\n<h2>3) Absence hurts most in transition years (TES)</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/school-absence-most-harmful-transition-years\" target=\"_blank\">Read full article at TES →</a></p>\n<p>Research shows that absence during early primary and key transition years is more than twice as damaging to attainment than absence in mid-primary. Illness absences have the same negative impact as unauthorised ones.</p>\n\n<p><strong>SEND & Beyond Take:</strong><br>\nFor neurodivergent pupils, transition stress combined with unmet needs leads to attendance drops. The right answer is adjustments and support, not just fines. EBSA and EBDA plans should start <strong>before</strong> transition. They should include phased timetables, safe-base routines, and communication passports.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Do Now:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Build a <strong>Transition & Attendance Plan</strong> with graded exposure, predictable routines, a named safe adult, early-day “success task,” and weekly barrier review.</li>\n<li>Track both authorised and unauthorised absence triggers. Treat illness-linked patterns as a signal for support.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<hr>\n\n<h2>4) Minister rebukes “overdiagnosis” claims in Derbyshire (BBC)</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd9jy2e1nz4o\" target=\"_blank\">Read full article at BBC News →</a></p>\n<p>Derbyshire’s Reform UK leader suggested that some children are being “overdiagnosed” with SEND. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called the remarks “reckless” and “shocking.” She noted that many families have been failed. EHCPs rose 10.8% nationally and 17.8% in Derbyshire.</p>\n\n<p><strong>SEND & Beyond Take:</strong><br>\nThe “overdiagnosis” narrative distracts from systemic failures and risks further stigma. Rising EHCP numbers often reflect historic unmet need being addressed, not mass mislabelling. Any reform must strengthen, not dilute, enforceable rights.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Do Now:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you are in Derbyshire (or an area with similar rhetoric), document every unmet need and its impact now — before reforms are announced.</li>\n<li>Share fact-based counterpoints: higher EHCP rates do not equal fraud; they often mean more children are finally being recognised and supported.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<hr>\n\n<h2>5) “It’s not safe to send my child to school” — West Sussex parents speak out (BBC)</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8derr2d6j0o\" target=\"_blank\">Read full article at BBC News →</a></p>\n<p>Families report that their children with SEND are unsafe due to missing EHCP-mandated provision. This situation is forcing some to withdraw their children from school. The council cites rising demand, with over 10,000 EHCPs.</p>\n\n<p><strong>SEND & Beyond Take:</strong><br>\nIf provision in Section F isn’t delivered, the placement is legally unsuitable. Safety concerns strengthen the case for an urgent review or alternative placement. The overlap of medical and SEND needs must be addressed.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Do Now:</strong></p>\n<ul>\n<li>Document incidents, dates, and missing provision. Copy the LA’s Director of Children’s Services and Monitoring Officer in complaints.</li>\n<li>Request an <em>urgent review</em> citing “placement breakdown” and “failure to deliver Section F.”</li>\n<li>If unsafe, send written notice to the school and LA that your child will remain at home until provision and risk assessments are addressed.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<hr>\n\n<h2>Affiliate Pick of the Week: <em>AuDHD: Blooming Differently</em> by Leanne Maskell</h2>\n<p><a href=\"https://amzn.to/4lqpm6L\" target=\"_blank\">View on Amazon →</a></p>\n<p>This memoir includes practical tips for AuDHD individuals, parents, educators, and clinicians. Pair it with your Transition & Attendance Plan to create shared language and strategies.</p>\n\n<div class=\"affiliate-images\">\n <img src=\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f665aa_2561c48560534cdab6ab52385d5a78b1~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"AuDHD: Blooming Differently – front cover\">\n <img src=\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f665aa_e0595fcdaaf84cab9837e79bb26e59ee~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"AuDHD: Blooming Differently – back cover\">\n</div>\n\n<hr>\n\n<h2>Conclusion</h2>\n<p>In conclusion, this briefing is also shared on our blog at <strong>sendandbeyond.co.uk</strong>. Forward this to a friend who needs it. We encourage you to reply with your wins or worries — we read everything.</p>\n<p>© SEND & Beyond Ltd 2025 • This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions are our own.</p>\n\n\n","source":"HTML"}}
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