September 2019

Erasmus+ and ESC funding from the government guarantee

17/09/19

The Goivernment has issued guidance to providers currently delivering ESF funded projects.

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NAO report into support for pupils with special educational needs

11/09/19

The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a report into the support offered to pupoils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  The  report finds that children with special needs and disabilities are being marginalised by mainstream schools in England.

The NAO accuses the government of misjudging the financial impact of its changes to education, with rising numbers of pupils with special needs unable to be accommodated in mainstream schools following a combination of funding strains, off-rolling and exclusions.

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DfE announces review of SEND education reforms

10/09/19

The government has announced a review into support for children with special educational needs.

Five years on from reforms introduced to better support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the review aims to improve the services available to families who need support, equip staff in schools and colleges to respond effectively to their needs as well as ending the ‘postcode lottery’ they often face.

The review comes a week after the government announced an extra £700million in 2020/21 for pupils with the most complex needs. 

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DWP writes to LAs about Supported Employment

06/09/19

DWP has written to all local authority Chief Executives to ask their help in mapping Supported Employment provision across the country. The letter marks the next phase in designing a follow up to the Supported Employment proof of concept which finished last month. 

The letter contains a questionnaire asking for details of local provision and asking whether authorities would be interested in participating in future trials. We recommend that all providers contact their local authority Chief Executive to flag up the importance of the letter.

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