AI-Curated News

Children's News Feed

Automatically curated from DfE announcements, education news, and sector updates.

Categories

SEND 2 months ago

Supporting Neurodivergent Children: The Power of Consistent Routines in Early Years

Charmaine Champ, Queen’s Award-winning Learning Disability Nurse, outlines how consistent routines and predictable environments in early years settings create essential stability for neurodivergent children preparing for school. By embedding structure and familiarity, practitioners can significantly improve school readiness and reduce anxiety for children with additional needs.

Read Summary
SEND 2 months ago

DfE guidance: Schools may use AI for SEND support plans but not EHCPs

New Department for Education guidance suggests schools can use artificial intelligence to draft non-statutory SEND support plans, but warns against using the technology for statutory Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). School leaders are urged to exercise caution regarding pupil data protection when implementing AI tools.

Read Summary
Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Spaces for Children
SEND May 27, 2026

Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Spaces for Children

Cheryl Warren explores how adapting physical and social environments helps neurodivergent children feel secure enough to express their authentic selves. By moving beyond compliance toward genuine acceptance, local authorities can transform how support is delivered across education and care settings.

Evidence gaps pose 'significant challenge' to SEND reforms, warns EEF
SEND May 22, 2026

Evidence gaps pose 'significant challenge' to SEND reforms, warns EEF

The Education Endowment Foundation has warned that a lack of robust evidence could undermine the government's SEND reform ambitions. In its response to the national SEND consultation, the charity highlighted significant gaps in the proposed evidence base, raising concerns about how local authorities will implement changes without clear proof of what works.

School Leaders Warn 'Attainment-First' Policies Threaten SEND Inclusion Reforms
SEND May 20, 2026

School Leaders Warn 'Attainment-First' Policies Threaten SEND Inclusion Reforms

Headteachers have warned that the government's focus on academic targets risks undermining proposed changes to special educational needs provision. The Association of School and College Leaders argues that an 'attainment at all costs' approach conflicts with efforts to support mainstream schools in accommodating more pupils with SEND.

Revealed: Uneven Split of £1.6 Billion Inclusion Fund Sparks Equity Debate
SEND May 14, 2026

Revealed: Uneven Split of £1.6 Billion Inclusion Fund Sparks Equity Debate

New analysis exposes significant disparities in how £1.6 billion in inclusion funding is distributed across local authorities. The findings reveal that some councils receive substantially more per pupil than others, raising urgent questions about fairness in SEND provision and resource allocation.

Early Dyslexia Identification 'Absent at Worst' in English Councils, Warns Charity Chief
SEND May 13, 2026

Early Dyslexia Identification 'Absent at Worst' in English Councils, Warns Charity Chief

The chief executive of the British Dyslexia Association, Ellen Broome, has warned that early identification of dyslexia in children is often inconsistent or completely absent across local authorities. New research reveals a significant gap in how councils identify and support this specific learning difficulty, prompting calls for systematic screening rather than optional provision.

Early Years Funding Should Prioritise Child Need Over Parental Employment, Study Finds
SEND May 6, 2026

Early Years Funding Should Prioritise Child Need Over Parental Employment, Study Finds

A two-year research programme by the London Early Years Foundation reveals significant benefits for children with additional needs when early years funding targets developmental requirements rather than parental work status. The findings challenge current policy approaches and call for a fundamental shift in how England's childcare system is financed and delivered.

Supporting school readiness: Why neurodiverse children need to move before they can sit
SEND May 1, 2026

Supporting school readiness: Why neurodiverse children need to move before they can sit

Charmaine Champ, a Queen's Award-winning Registered Nurse in Learning Disability, highlights the importance of understanding sensory processing differences in early childhood education. She explains that for many neurodiverse children, physical movement is a prerequisite to being able to sit still and engage with learning, challenging traditional expectations of school readiness.