A particularly poignant reply. What a wild way for DfE to build up trust with the sector

This post from DfE is going down like a sack of spuds.

Many teachers replying with their experience from the frontline right now…

Edu committee chair @helenhayes.bsky.social has written to ed sec @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social asking for more info on the SEND reforms "co-creation" process. ⤵️

Announcing the delay last month, BP decided to have a "further period of co-creation" to test proposals w parents, educators, experts.

Next week I'll be taking a break from playing my daughter 'Shake It Off' on repeat to get back to the Schools Week news desk for a few days.

If you're free for a well needed catch-up on Tuesday or Wednesday, just drop me a message.

In the meantime, here's a very delicious baby leg.

The SEND reforms were always going to be tricky, but politically this is what Labour are now up against

Back home to this one now. A successful first evening away I think

Reform now controls Kent council, which has a huge high needs deficit.

In this story, Farage targets diversity and climate change initiatives.

But you can’t help but wonder what it means for SEND once they actually get in the door

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

This miracle worker should be eligible to receive the 30 hours childcare funding

Riiiiight

Thanks so much for the well wishes everyone

Got our own Schools Week superhero right here

I’ll be offline and away from the news beat for a little while after welcoming our first child to this wild planet ♥️ she’s the best

Councils were 'encouraged' under the last capital SEND dosh to increase MS placements - but great analysis by Special Needs Jungle (see screengrab above) shows most of it went on special schools - where there is a massive capacity issue

We've since had more detail from DfE that this money can also be spent on special schools - despite the PR sounding like just money for mainstream.

So without any strict funding conditions, it just sounds like much of the same as under last gov?

One to watch on Monday. The public accounts committee is holding its first session on the National Audit Office's SEND report
It'll hear from DfE and DHSC senior bods from 3.30pm ⤵️

committees.parliament.uk/work/8582/su...

Next Monday at Labour conference, I’ll be speaking on this ASCL and EPI panel about SEND - it should hopefully be a productive discussion! If you’re at Lab conf and want to meet, just drop me a msg / email

And what a wonderful 10th birthday it was. Thanks so much to everyone who came and continues to support us