General News
Tribute to Karen Street
Karen Street 15/12/1966 – 04/07/2022 A special tribute to a special lady Karen...
Calm and Quite Session
Friday 27th May 22 10am to 2pm Romford Job Centre 30 Main Road, RM1 3HH For people with...
LGSCO Children’s statutory complaints process – Guide for practitioners
The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman recently launched a new guide to help local...
Open letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families
Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families has written an...
The State of Children’s Mental Health Services 2020/2021
To read the latest report please click...
A guide to your COVID-19 vaccination – Easy Read Version
Please see here an easy read document regarding the Covid vaccination...
Open Letter from the Minister for Children and Families Vicky Ford
See attached open letter from the Minister for Children and Families Vicky Ford (dated 14th Jan...
Guidance for special schools, specialist post-16 providers and alternative provision during the national lockdown – January 2021
Additional guidance has been published for special schools and colleges and alternative...
COVID-19 series: briefing on special educational needs and disabilities provision, November 2020
On 17 March 2020, all routine inspections were suspended due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus)...
COVID-19 Testing Programme Test-to-Return
As you will be aware the government is introducing coronavirus (COVID-19) testing programmes...
Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
This guidance is for everyone who has been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable. If...
Guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings
The Department for Education have updated their Guidance for full opening: special schools and...
Health and care news from across north east London
Welcome to the public bulletin keeping local people informed about health and care services;...
Contact Annual Review of Parent Carer Participation
Contact have just published their annual review of parent carer participation for 2019-20 to...
NHS 111: How do I book a timeslot at A&E?
From the 1st December you’ll be able to book a slot at your local A&E if you need to by...
Various Newsletters
Various newsletters to view Making Ourselves Heard Click here to view the latest newsletter...
Big Social Care Review
The CSA are carrying out their big social care review for autistic people, people with...
Minister Ford’s letter to the SEND sector 9th Nov
Attached is an open letter from Vicky Ford, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for...
Winter Planning to support children and families
Attached is a letter from Viv Bennett, Chief Public Health Nurse at Public Health England, and...
Guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings
What all special schools and other specialist settings will need to do during the coronavirus...
Ofsted support for area SEND arrangements this autumn term
From October, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be visiting some local areas to...
Expiration of EHC Regulations
Regulations made to provide additional flexibility over the statutory timescales for various...
Letter from Minister Ford
Click here to read the latest letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for...
Transport to school and other places of education: autumn term 2020 – DfE Guidance
This guidance is to support the government’s intention for all children and young people, in...
NNPCF discuss parental issues with Minister Vicky Ford
On Monday 6th July, the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) cochairs Tina Emery...
Help children with SEND continue their education during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Advice for parents and carers looking after children with special educational needs and...
Weekly update from BHRUT – 9th June
This is a slightly longer newsletter than usual because I am keen to keep you informed about...
Dentists & Covid-19
NHS England and NHS Improvement 1. Currently all routine dentistry is suspended Routine dental...
Weekly update from BHRUT – 3 June
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen us completely change the way we deliver services as we’ve had to...
Changes to the law on education, health and care needs assessments and plans due to coronavirus
Guidance on temporary changes to special educational needs and disability legislation during...
Joint Ministerial Letter Re Changes to the Law and Education, Health & Care Plans
The Department of Health & Social Care and the Department for Education have issued a joint...
Changes to the law on education, health and care needs assessments and plans due to coronavirus
Guidance on temporary changes to education, health and care legislation during the coronavirus...
DfE Coronavirus (COVID-19): SEND risk assessment guidance
As part of the response to coronavirus (COVID-19), educational settings have been asked to...
NHS Every Mind Matters – Looking after your mental health
Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. We have...
Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus outbreak
Guidance for education settings and local authorities about children supported through social...
COVID 19 Coronavirus
“We know that families caring for disabled children may be particularly worried about the...
Shaping Services Around Your Child – A Parent Carers’ Guide to Integrated Commissioning
Integrated commissioning is where commissioners (those who plan, develop and purchase services)...
DfE 0-25 SEND Newsletter – July 2019
Please find attached the July 2019 edition of the Department for Education’s 0-25 SEND...
CQC Interim Report
This report gives the interim findings from the CQC review of the use of restrictive...
Timpson Review of School Exclusion
Edward Timpson’s report into school exclusions makes 30 recommendations to address the growing...
Ofsted School Inspection Framework – September 2019
There is new Ofsted guidance on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under...
SEND Single Route of Redress National Trial Newsletter – May 2019
The May 2019 SEND Single Route of Redress National Trial newsletter focuses on: Key updates...
DfE 0-25 SEND Newsletter – April 2019
Please find attached the April 2019 edition of the Department for Education’s 0-25 SEND...
SEND Single Route of Redress National Trial Newsletter – January 2019
The January 2019 SEND Single Route of Redress National Trial newsletter focuses on: Key updates...
Contact Parent Carer Participation 2017–2018 Annual Report
A key part of Contact's work is supporting 152 local forums for parent carers of disabled...
Residential special schools and colleges: support for children
An independent review of the experiences and outcomes of children in residential special...
Autism And Education In England, 2017 – Government Response
The Government have responded to Autism and Education in England 2017 - a report by the...
Government review to improve the lives of autistic children
The government will collect evidence from autistic children, their families and their carers on...
Additional High Needs Funding Announced
Today, the Secretary of State for Education announced additional high needs funding for Local...
Ministers act to increase “Changing Places” toilets for severely disabled people
New shopping centres, stadiums and theme parks are among buildings that could be required to...
The NHS Long Term Plan
The NHS Long Term Plan was developed in partnership with those who know the NHS best –...
Families waiting too long for special needs support in England
Thousands of children in England with special educational needs are waiting too long for an...
Letter from the Secretary of State to local authorities
This announcement contains details of an increase to high needs funding for the financial years...
Mental health and behaviour in schools – DfE Advice
This is non-statutory, departmental advice from the Department for Education (DfE). Mental...
Developing and sustaining an effective local SEND system
Commissioned by the Local Government Association, Isos Partnership have produced a good...
NHS England Winter Newsletter – Easy Read Version
To read the latest newsletter from NHS England please click...
Government announcement on its Autism Strategy
The Government have announced an extension of the review of its autism strategy to cover...
DfE 0-25 SEND Newsletter – October 2018
Please find attached the October 2018 edition of the Department for Education’s 0-25 SEND...
Bercow: 10 years on – Government Response
On 20 March this year, the Bercow: 10 years on report was published, which raised some key...
Government Response: Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) Programme Second Annual Report
Every death represents a deep personal loss to someone. How much more tragic is that loss when...
Luke Clements Partnership Newsletter
Luke Clements is the Cerebra Professor of Law and Social Justice at the School of Law, Leeds...
London Assembly: Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provision in London
A report has been compiled by the London Assembly regarding Special Educational Needs and...
Commissioning for transition to adult services for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
This quick guide aims to help health commissioners and providers tackle the challenges involved...
NHS England Health services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
This Quick Guide aims to help health commissioners and providers tackle the challenges involved...
SEND Single Route of Redress National Trial – August Newsletter
Welcome to the Department for Education & Mott MacDonald August 2018 SEND Single Route of...
Residential special schools and colleges: support for children
An independent review of the experiences and outcomes of children in residential special...
SEND Complaints: guide for young people aged 16 to 25 in education
Guide for young people on how to resolve special education needs and disability (SEND)...
The Inclusive Transport Strategy: Achieving Equal Access for Disabled People
The Government has today announced new measures which it says “will improve accessibility...
Natural History Museum London
If you find one of the members of staff either in a purple t-shirt or hi-vis and explain your...
Carers UK – State of Caring Report 2018
Over 7000 carers and former carers shared their experiences of caring in this year’s State of...
Carers Action Plan
The plan sets out the cross-government programme of work to support carers over the next 2...
Parliamentary Education Select Committee Special educational needs and disabilities inquiry
The Education Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament...
A guide to making conversations with schools count for all families
It can often be really difficult to find the right school for your disabled child. Even knowing...
Transforming children and young people’s mental health Green Paper launched
The Government is seeking views on its newly published consultation focusing on children and...
Latest CDC Newsletter
Welcome to the CDC Winter Digest. With the winter weather apparent all around, what could be...
Blue Badge Scheme: Consultation on eligibility
The Blue Badge scheme plays a vital role in allowing 2.4 million disabled people in England to...
Recommendations for the UK made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concluded its Periodic...
Contact November Newsletter
The November 2017 edition of What’s new, helping you to keep up to date with the latest and...
Statutory guidance on the exclusion of pupils
The Department for Education recently published an update of its exclusion guidance:...
SEND – single route of redress national trial
Robert Goodwill, Minister of State for Children and Families, has announced plans to launch the...
Contact October Newsletter
October 2017 edition of What’s new, helping you to keep up to date with the latest and most...
Online mental health resources co-designed for parents by parents
MindEd for Families is an innovative online resource providing information and advice to...
Local Area SEND Inspections: One year On
The former Minister of State for Children and Families commissioned Ofsted and the Care Quality...
Information about speech and language impairments
Afasic have added a further six information sheets to their popular Glossary Sheets series. ...
Preparing for Adulthood Autumn Newsletter
The PfA Autumn Newsletter has now been published, if you would like to receive future copies...
CDC Digest – July 2017
The CDC Digest is a quarterly round-up of all the essential policy, practice and other news...
Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) – Demonstration Sites Evaluation Report
In 2016-17, eight sites across England were selected to receive support to make further...
Latest DfE 0-25 SEND Newsletter – July 2017
The newsletter includes: A message from Robert Goodwill MP, Minister of State for Children and...
Free Downloads From Afasic
Afasic have been updating and revising their popular series of glossary sheets to reflect...
Easy Read Guides on Finding Work
If you support someone who has a learning disability and is on the hunt for a job, Mencap have...
Summer edition of NHS England’s easy read learning disability newsletter
The summer 2017 easy read learning disability newsletter introduces the new National Clinical...
Latest release of SEN2 data
Information from the school census on pupils with special educational needs (SEN), and SEN...
A Beginners Guide to the General Election
On 8 June 2017, there will be a General Election in the UK. If you’ve never voted before, or...
MENCAP Easy Read Guide to Voting in the General Election
People with a learning disability have as much right to vote as anyone else. Don’t let anyone...
Disagreement Resolution
Following a commitment by the Secretary of State for Education and the Lord Chancellor in the...
EHC Plan Research Report
This report provides results from a survey of over 13,000 parents and young people who received...
Transition of Statements to EHC Plans
A letter from Edward Timpson, Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families has been...