The Government has announced that the extended powers given to the SEND Tribunal on the health and social care elements of EHC plans will continue when the national trial ends on 31 August 2021 Read more
We've received a number of calls in recent weeks about the correct process for selecting a secondary school when your child has an EHC plan Read more
Read our guidance on the how the COVID-19 measures affect children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) Read more
The APPG for SEND has published a report on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children with SEND Read more
What to do if your LA still hasn’t confirmed a school place for your child with SEND Read more
Bonny trained as an advice line volunteer in 2006, before joining IPSEA's office team in 2009 Read more
IPSEA has had a number of calls in recent weeks from parents who are still waiting for phase transfer annual reviews to be completed Read more
LGSCO asks London Borough of Redbridge to audit all children who receive SEN provision at a borough school after the council left a boy without the support he needed for over two years Read more
At this time of year, our volunteers make lots of calls to parents and carers with questions about support during this transition and beyond and what schools and LAs should be doing Read more
IPSEA's response to Ofsted's 2020 annual report Read more
IPSEA has responded to the APPG for SEND inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on educational transitions for children and young people with SEND Read more
IPSEA has prepared an update on how the SEND Tribunal is operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, including tips regarding remote hearings Read more
IPSEA is very concerned about the temporary changes introduced by government which significantly dilute the responsibilities of local authorities towards children and young people with special educational needs and EHC plans. Read more
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (“PAC”) has published its report on support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Read more
At this time of year, many families will be thinking about their options, as children and young people with special educational needs (“SEN”) prepare for a move from one phase of education to another. Read more
We are paying close attention to government advice during the coronavirus outbreak. Please be aware that all IPSEA staff are currently working from home and our administration office is unable to take calls at this time. Read more
Ofsted’s findings echo those of the Education Select Committee, the LGSCO and the local area SEND inspections that illustrate a system in crisis and demonstrate just how badly children with SEND are being let down all over the country. Read more
We are calling on the next government to make four commitments to improve the education of children and young people with SEND and ensure they receive the support they are legally entitled to. Read more
IPSEA highlighted concerns about the lack of guidance for mainstream settings, despite the fact we know children in mainstream schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) are being restrained and subjected to isolation or seclusion. Read more
The House of Commons Education Committee has published its report following the SEND Inquiry launched in April 2018. IPSEA made a detailed written submission and our CEO gave evidence at one of the Inquiry’s 12 oral evidence sessions. Read more
“Exceptional and unprecedented”: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman upholds nearly 9 out of 10 complaints about Education, Health and Care plans. Read more
Some mainstream schools have specialist units or resource bases attached to the mainstream school. How this should be reflected in the child or young person’s EHC plan depends on whether it is a separate institution to the mainstream school or not. Read more
The Department of Health and the Department for Education issued new guidance on avoiding the use of restraint and restrictive intervention and also how restraint should be used in health and social care services and special education settings. Read more
The government has announced a major review into support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, five years on from the introduction of the Children and Families Act 2014 Read more