🎄 🎶 It's been a long and gruelling year Sometimes SEND news is hard to hear It's time to pause, shine Christmas lights ⭐ Next year, we'll Save Our Children's Rights 🎅 Merry Christmas from all the volunteer team at Special Needs Jungle 💝 😘

Can you please spare just 4 seconds to help SNJ in by telling Google search we're your preferred source for SEND news! Shortlink here: bit.ly/choosesnj and check the box! Mwah! 😘

Schools & parents; Measure What Matters is gathering evidence of LA SEND maladministration. Please add your testimony! Our article by Chris Coghlan MP explains more about the "systematic, moral, and ethical” abuse of SEND law that's being revealed www.specialneedsjungle.com/m...

NEW POST: How teachers are providing the missing evidence illustrating systemic SEND maladministration by councils. Accountability investigators, Measure What Matters, are urging schools and educators to share their experiences anonymously: www.specialneedsjungle.com/t...

Our SEND Politics page has been updated with all the links you need: www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...

As SNJ’s founder, and a fellow Culcheth kid, @mayorofgm.bsky.social I’m happy to explain everything you really need to know 😉

Important for school teachers, sencos, heads to read and respond #SENDsjy #edusky

This was a mammoth task but happy to do it if it helps others stress the importance of SEND rights

We’ve exceeded 72k signatures. As some of our media and politicians push a more harmful narrative, others are pushing back. This is a groundswell of compassion from everyday women for the trans, intersex and nonbinary community. Please keep sharing with friends and family 🙏 🔗 notinourname.org.uk/

“SEND: Opening resource bases ‘risks making you a magnet school’” Inclusion must not be optional. It must be defined by national criteria that can’t be fudged when Ofsted comes round—and heads must face losing their jobs if they fail to meet them. www.tes.com/magazine/news/ge...

Six more days for this fab🎄 freebie! How Twinkl can support you during this festive period—and beyond. Grab free resources for SNJ readers for a limited time! www.specialneedsjungle.com/t...

Provisional local govt financial settlement & DSG/SEND deficits: £3.8bn now, est £14bn in 2028 “We will provide further detail on our plans to support local authorities with historic & accruing [DSG] deficits & conditions for accessing such [unspecified] support later in the Settlement process.”

On SNJ Today: Accountability investigators ask teachers to keep anonymously sharing their experiences, filling the evidence gap showing systemic #SEND maladministration by LAs. Measure What Matters offer early data showing the dangers of legal reform www.specialneedsjungle.com/t...

An important article. Teachers, TAs, heads, please give your testimony anonymously. Please share #edusky #sendsky

NEW POST: Teacher training firms don’t think they—or their trainees—have the skills to support mainstream pupils with complex SEND. The NASBTT’s Emma Hollis discusses how they aim to bridge the gap. www.specialneedsjungle.com/c... #Disability #SENDSky

Why the £3bn may not all be new money — and if you’re attending a DfE “SEND conversation” this is invaluable reading

Wes Streeting blaming doctors for the chaos from rising flu cases #C4News Wes Streeting did not offer covid or flu boosters to everyone who wanted one Wes Streeting did not care enough to ensure clean indoor air in schools, workplaces, hospitality Both would have brought down cases significantly

An important post from @captaink77.bsky.social and in this £3 bn funding is proof that EHCPs are at risk and the “National SEND Conversation” is as much a scam as we said it was.

I summarised this new Ofsted/CQC report on children with SEND not in school

NEW POST: Focusing on “over-diagnosis” is ignoring data and evidence, says SNJ’s @rachel.stopsafetyvalve.uk. She argues it won’t cut costs & wastes money that should be spent on urgent support www.specialneedsjungle.com/a... #Disability #SENDSky

Pharmacy— order your meds early for Christmas! Me: Orders meds early. Pharmacy: Why are you ordering your meds early? Me: 🙇‍♀️

How do I ensure therapies, such as physiotherapy, OT or Speech therapy, are regularly carried out by a specialist professional rather than a TA who has been trained for a few sessions? An Ask IPSEA answer www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...

It’s been a while coming—we were just stunned they would do something this cynical and needed time to discuss why. We are unanimous—a team effort, pulled together by me.

It’s incredibly disrespectful and we’ve told them so

NEW POST: We have a fab pre-Christmas treat for SNJ readers courtesy of @twinklresources.bsky.social bewteen 8am 5th-10pm 22nd December, grab some free activities and resources to keep your kids busy this holiday! www.specialneedsjungle.com/t... #Disability #SENDSky

NEW POST: *Trigger Warning* Losing your child through the failure of others can only amplify your indescribable pain. Bereaved mother, Sharren Bridges, is now seeking to ensure other families don't endure the same tragedy www.specialneedsjungle.com/j... #SENDSky #disability #IDPD2025

The spending watchdog has defended its 'reasonable' decision to forecast the impact of a £6 billion SEND funding shortfall on the schools budget following a backlash from ministers

We campaigners have a plan for SEND, @samfr.bsky.social

Speaking at the Nursery Management Today show at Excel on #SEND in the Early Years—really interesting discussion on the importance of real early intervention with Courtney McAllister and Cornwall Nursery group manager Mandy Richardson

NEW POST: In an SNJ exclusive, @rachel.stopsafetyvalve.uk highlights how ADHD and Autism “Right to Choose” assessments have been paused in at least nine NHS areas, as ICBs tell their contracted private providers to stop offering new appointments www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...

NEW POST: What Schools and Parents Need to Understand About Supporting Autistic and Neurodivergent Children. @autisticrealms.bsky.social looks at what really needs to happen to help neurodivergent children thrive: www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...

NEW POST: Unauthorised Absence: A #SEND mum and her team are seeking funding for their short film on the injustice of punitive attendance policies, backed by academic, education, law, and health professionals www.specialneedsjungle.com/u...

The SEND crib sheet: Being proactive to help the school help your disabled child. A good teacher should welcome your involvement and have the skills to translate your tips into the right classroom support: www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...

Watch our recent webinar looking at forthcoming cuts to the health element (also known as the limited capability for work and work-related activity element) of Universal Credit 👇

⏰ 1 week to go until the Education Law Conference! 💡 We're looking forward to coming together to connect, share ideas and build a community committed to driving change in education law. 🎟️ Limited places remaining – book now: hi.switchy.io/kOXO

NEW POST: SEND changes will be “co-created”, Bridget Phillipson has said. Which means what, exactly?—demands @helenhayes.bsky.social, chair of the Education Select Committee—Join @tanialt.bsky.social with the popcorn in our post today... www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...

NEW POST: 10 questions every parent should ask about SEND interventions. Plus a unique opportunity for West Midlands parents to join QTrobot #Autism Research www.specialneedsjungle.com/q...

Looking forward to reading this, having given evidence to the committee

Are you an autistic person aged 18+ from the Global Majority, who has received talking therapy for support around anxiety? We hope to include a diverse range of voices to inform our study, which involves a 75 minute online interview. To find out more, please follow this link: dub.sh/LzKn6is

On SNJ Today: New Cerebra research reveals widespread patterns of ‘systems-generated trauma’ by public bodies caused to desperate families asking for help. Cerebra CEO Jess Camburn Rahmani says action is urgently needed: www.specialneedsjungle.com/r... #parentblame

NEW POST: A shocking new report by Cerebra reveals widespread ‘systems-generated trauma’ by public bodies that’s breaking vulnerable families who’ve asked for support. In a post for SNJ, Cerebra CEO Jess Camburn Rahmani is calling for urgent action: www.specialneedsjungle.com/r...

On SNJ Today: The Education Committee's @helenhayes.bsky.social seems a bit sceptical in her reply to Bridget Phillipson's letter that said #SEND changes will be “co-created” Who can blame her—and we're here for it! @tanialt.bsky.social brought the popcorn 👀 🍿 www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...

I had some thoughts… 🍿

On SNJ Today: Enter our brilliant #Giveaway to win one of THREE copies of Understanding Parent Blame: Institutional failure and complex trauma. @catrionamoore.bsky.social reviews this important book by Prof. Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello: www.specialneedsjungle.com/u...

NEW GIVEAWAY: We have THREE copies of this important book to give away. @catrionamoore.bsky.social reviews Understanding Parent Blame: Institutional failure and complex trauma by Prof. Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello www.specialneedsjungle.com/u...

The way SEND registers are used to identify and support students with additional needs is a “mystery” that needs clarifying before schools can be judged on inclusion, experts are warning. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

NEW POST: SNJ's @rachel.stopsafetyvalve.uk on keeping your composure when managing challenging interviews with people who've been taken in by SEND misinformation www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...

Finally got round to writing about this. We're not making enough progress with challenging educational disadvantage. We should pick key areas that face wicked problems, suspend how we normally do things, and try radical collaboration: open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...

Our free EYSEND workshops are continuing throughout the Autumn Term!📆 Join us and learn how to give families the tools to support their child’s communication skills💬👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Learn more and book your place: https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/educators-and-professionals/training-courses/eysend-partnership/

I think my child has a special educational need. What can I do? Read this, then add your tips! www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...