Our budget response … more tomorrow!

Our response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review. ⬇️

Huge thanks @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social for truly listening to parents of children with Send today. The Government has a big opportunity to make Send support better and you have shown that families' experiences are the launch pad for those solutions.

We support the Government's pause, as it's essential they get SEND reforms right. The new year must bring comprehensive, compelling proposals that reflect the urgent need for change.

Important report from the @suttontrust.bsky.social highlights the significant financial impact that having a child with SEND can have on families - a crucial factor that must be considered by the Government when shaping opportunities and outcomes for every child.

Brilliant evening hearing our former @kidscharity.bsky.social Chair @stephenunwin.bsky.social talk to Patron @cathynewman.bsky.social about his book ‘Beautiful Lives’. A compelling challenge to stop valuing only money and cleverness and to adopt a richer notion of being human.

Please spread the word about this fab opportunity to help our work on digital inclusion! 👇

Beautifully told stories about the harsh reality of 'the fight' by families and a lovely example from a head of a school where teachers step up as Send champions to help children 'flourish' - 'it's about setting them up for life after school'

Training for the ‘whole school’, accountability, early support, parents as partners - so much common sense from @helenhayes.bsky.social and the education select committee’s report on ‘moving forward’ with a transformed approach to Send @kidscharity.bsky.social @dcpcampaign.bsky.social

Our CEO, @katieghose.bsky.social, responds to the Solving the SEND Crisis report published by the Education Select Committee.

MPs drop in today was packed with young people, parents and politicians keen to share stories and solutions. Great to see new minister @georgiagould.bsky.social eager to listen to families’ experiences. These must be front and centre of the reforms. @dcpcampaign.bsky.social @kidscharity.bsky.social

Read what our CEO, @katieghose.bsky.social , shared with @skynewsrss.bsky.social. "We do need the government to embrace systemic reforms. We believe the reformed system must include EHCPs for those children who will continue to need them." news.sky.com/story/why-ar...

It’s time to fix the SEND system. Because there’s nothing ‘special’ about an education that works for all of us. Today parents are taking the #FightForOrdinary to Parliament.

'When you know better, do better. Now do better for Send children'. A brilliant banner at today's parents' rally in Parliament in support of every child with Send. Hotfooting it now to the MPs' drop in to support the 'fight for ordinary'! @kidscharity.bsky.social @dcpcampaign.bsky.social

‘If only we’d found Kids sooner our daughter is flourishing with you’, fabulous day at our holiday programme in Hull. Lego, craft and all kinds of fun with the children and our amazing @kidscharity.bsky.social team. Rules created by the kids (‘be kind’ and ‘don’t snatch’) a manifesto for life!

It's five years since we lost my wonderful and witty sister, Nanda, on her birthday, and I'd like to shout out to @samaritans.bsky.social for the vital services they provide. If you're worried about someone they provide excellent information and guidance on what to do - samaritans.org

Delighted to be part of our Fight for Ordinary, launched today!

In awe of the incredible team @womankindworldwide.bsky.social - and thrilled to be on board!

‘Agents of change’, equal partners’ and call for transformational ideas from every corner of civil society, What a stimulating day at yesterday’s civil society covenant launch thanks @pbe.co.uk @lbfew.bsky.social @ncvoyr.bsky.social @acevo.bsky.social and all involved @kidscharity.bsky.social

Today’s spending review confirmed that the Government will share the intended approach for SEND reform in the autumn. We hope the Government will consult widely with disabled children, young people and their families, and draw on their expertise and suggestions for reform.

Our CEO, @katieghose.bsky.social, highlights the harsh reality families face accessing support: “It's a postcode lottery across all sorts of services. You might have a 2 year old waiting half their life before they get their foot in the door for the help they need.” Read here: shorturl.at/kGS6H

Legal guarantees to support AND help at the earliest opportunity are both essential if the Government’s Send reforms are to improve disabled children’s lives 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Thrilled to co-chair the Digital Services Consortium and to be launching an ambitious digital inclusion programme for disabled children today!

Fabulous pasta party with our awesome @kidscharity.bsky.social marathon runners and young supporters! In awe of their commitment to help us support more kids with disabilities to play, learn, have fun and make friends. Huge thanks Greystar for hosting us on the 32nd floor!

Wonderful afternoon at our peaceful @kidscharity.bsky.social playground in Chelsea where kids who need 1-1 adult support can mess about, have fun and make friends. Swings, trampolines, water play and more! Lovely spending time with our manager Sarah and former trustee and long time supporter Austin.

Silent disco, air guitars and bubbles were on the Easter menu at our amazing @kidscharity.bsky.social Orchard Centre in the Midlands this morning! Good chats with parents too, who never stop fighting for their children to be able to play, learn, grow and thrive alongside their peers.

Loved my visit to one of our @kidscharity.bsky.social adventure playgrounds. All kinds of kids with all kinds of disabilities (and siblings) roam around and enjoy den-building, fire making and messing about on bikes. Enjoyed showing our chair Diana around a fab service. How childhood should be! ❤️

School or college can be full of sensory challenges with crowded hallways, bright lights and loud noises. Here’s some tips from young people on how to manage sensory overload at school. #WeCanBeHeard

We are extremely concerned by the Government's confirmation in the Spring statement to cut disability benefits by £4.8 billion, including reducing eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment.

This year’s results from @coramfam.bsky.social reinforce the continued exclusion of babies and toddlers with SEND from the childcare expansion. Yet again, sufficiency of places is unacceptably low. Read the full report here: www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcare-su...

We welcome this timely research, which signals another potential roadblock to the expansion of early years places for children with SEND. If providers are struggling to meet costs and open doors, they may find it harder to support children who need additional resources.

We support the Government's ambition for more disabled children to thrive in mainstream schools, but tightening the rules on assessment and support is a counterproductive approach to fixing a broken system. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

'Kind angels' who understand and want to support our children in a world where kindness is not always their experience. I've been showing a local MP a @kidscharity.bsky.social service and this was lovely feedback about my colleagues from one parent.

Autism can present differently in girls and many mask their struggles to fit in, which can make it harder to spot their needs. If you're feeling unsure about how to support your child, our online masking workshop is here to help. Book your place here: https://buff.ly/3CwmW6s