In a House of Lords debate on Monday 9 December, Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie asked what plans ministers have to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Highlighting concerns that the current SEND system is failing children, and calling for a shift to a more ambitious, holistic approach, she said: "Unfortunately, the SEND system is predicated on what children cannot do, not what they can. To qualify for an EHCP, you need a diagnosis of something, hence the rush to find labels for things and, for those who can, to turn to private consultants to get a label for their child. None of this is helpful in supporting the self-esteem of the child, building relationships with parents or identifying what the best support for the child should be."

Baroness Fraser subsequently outlined a number of steps to improve support and outcomes for children with SEND, which include early identification and diagnoses, independent and state school collaboration, and a focus on enhancing speech and language services.

Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), highlighted the crucial role played by independent schools in supporting children with SEND and referenced the many small schools that provide excellent care and education, often in regions where state provision is lacking. Lord Lexden warned that the government's VAT on fees policy risks threatening these schools, especially as many children with SEND do not have education, health and care (EHC) plans. He said: "Labour says that schools themselves can cover much of their tax. That is wrong. The small schools, of which the sector largely consists, have to raise each year the means by which to meet their costs. Demand for EHC plans will rise. Demand for places in state schools will rise. State schools will struggle to provide them at the same level of care and support as in the independent sector. Good independent special needs schools will shut." 

Reiterating calls for pupils with SEND to be exempt from ministers' tax plans, he concluded: "The right course—in the interests of education—is obvious: some clear guiding principles should be laid down. First, all pupils with diagnosed SEND and all those eligible for disability living allowance should be exempt from the education tax. Secondly, a tax threshold should be set—based on the number of pupils—to protect smaller special schools from closure. Thirdly, an independent review should be conducted after six months to provide proper factual evidence of how the education tax—launched hurriedly without full consultation—is affecting the most vulnerable children who look to our education system to meet their special needs. That is what a responsible Government would do."

In closing comments, Baroness Smith of Malvern (The Minister of State, Department for Education), said the government is committed to improving the SEND system and recognises "how urgently we need to address these issues". Baroness Smith outlined a number of measures that include increased funding, teacher training reforms, improved inclusivity in mainstream schools, and support for special needs schools, to ensure better outcomes for children with SEND. Hansard.

Government departments have recommended that millions of public sector workers including teachers, NHS staff and senior civil servants are given a 2.8 per cent pay rise next year. Unions have criticised the recommendations, which will now be considered by public sector pay review bodies, saying the proposed pay increase is too low. By Becky Morton, BBC News. 

Sir Ian Bauckham, interim head of Ofqual, has suggested that exam boards consider using artificial intelligence (AI) to draft GCSE and A-level papers. Speaking to MPs, he noted that creating new question sheets each year is “labour-intensive” and said AI could also mark “very simple, selective” exam papers, including multiple-choice questions. By Poppy Wood, The Telegraph. 

More than four out of 10 Scottish secondary pupils are “persistently” absent from school, Scottish government figures suggest. According to the official data, 31.4 per cent of all pupils were absent for 10 per cent or more of the school year in 2023/24. This was much higher than the period 2010/11 to 2020/21, before the pandemic, when the persistent absence rate ranged between 19.1 per cent and 21.8 per cent. By Simon Johnson, The Telegraph.

Parents are facing nursery fee increases next year as government funding for childcare comes under pressure from tax rises and higher wages. Early years leaders have said some nurseries will be forced to close, with one nursery warning that it will have to raise fees by 28 per cent, a figure that could see average fees for a child under two increase by £1,643 to £10,516 per year. By Alexa Phillips, iNews.

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