Today is Lewis Carrol's birthday. OK, Charles Dodgson's. I've linked to a rather lovely podcast episode of In Our Time at the end of this week's White Paper Watch. You might need it to relax a little.
"These two paywalled articles may just be kite-flying—people airing deniable ideas in public, to gauge the reaction of MPs and the public. It’s equally possible rival parts of Whitehall are using journalists as a way to get their (terrible) pet ideas adopted, or things they don’t like dropped."
by Special Needs Jungle
https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/leaking-poorly-thought-through-plans-cuts-send-rights-tiers/
"It may be more accurate to think of “complex unmet needs” rather than simply “complex needs.” This shift in language highlights that the challenge often lies not in the child’s inherent complexity but in gaps within the education (and health and care) system’s ability to meet their needs effectively. "
by Special Needs Jungle
https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/complex-needs-cuts-undefinable-labels-ration-send-support/
Read the iPaper article
"Every child with additional needs will be given an “individual support passport” – a digital document to make their needs accessible at every stage of education, from early years to sixth form, sources close to the reforms said."
by Connie Dimsdale, Richard Vaughan
https://archive.is/MQQlN#selection-1738.2-1755.15
"The challenge for schools is that being inclusive comes at a very high cost. The funding system does not adequately resource schools who have disproportionately high incidence of special educational needs. The more pupils with EHCPs on roll, the harder it becomes to meet each child’s needs and to fulfil statutory requirements... Furthermore, performance measures are punitive towards schools that have higher levels of need. These disincentives mean that we are almost entirely reliant on the moral purpose of school leaders to want to be, and to be seen as, a truly inclusive school."
by Matthew Evans
https://matthewevanseducation.substack.com/p/magnetic-schools
"Then, if we turn to the practicalities of inclusion, a closer look at accountability is essential. The accountability system prioritises attainment – and progress – across a number of academic subjects. Is that an accurate proxy for the rounded successful education that inclusion requires?"
by John Severs
https://email.tes.com/t/cr/AQiOjhAQ9YCHARj_____BzxmvD3IJ06f4ldkEO6EaeGceELoUFdP4pNZ1-dM_KoV
"Although legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard, they can at times sit in tension with efforts to improve outcomes for children with SEND.
For example, the government wants to make schools more inclusive, building support into settings more seamlessly rather than as add-ons to the standard offer. And school leaders have told us that it would be beneficial – often both financially and for the children themselves – to pool resources and support for children with similar needs. Both aspirations are hindered by the rigidity of current individual entitlements, which promote piecemeal additions to provision."
by Amber Dellar
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/government-trade-offs-send-reform
"As any SEND parent will know, even though they often deliver inspirational schooling to kids with Special Needs, most staff in mainstream primary and secondary schools are also rushed off their feet, and burdened with big workloads. In the midst of everyday pressures and crises, SEND expertise is sometimes simply beyond their reach."
by John Harris
https://maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/special-needs-reforms-mean-huge-changes
Fewer links this week, but some longer pieces. It's certainly interesting watching government in action around the white paper.
But now, make a pot of tea, and listen to Melvyn Bragg's "In Our Time" podcast about Alice in Wonderland.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001w7f9
And take a look at the stained glass window, celebrating Alice and her friends.
https://daresburycofe.org.uk/lewis-carroll-window/
When I was about 5 years old, I played the Dodo in the school play. My only line was "Prizes for everyone".
I think about that a lot when I'm working with councils and SENCOs on digital projects for SEND.
cheers
Jonny Holden