The Independent's chief business commentator, James Moore, discusses the case of an eight-year-old child who was reportedly denied a referral to occupational therapy on the grounds that he attends a fee-paying school. Drawing on his own experience, Mr Moore suggests this may reflect the broader issue of families struggling to secure support for their children with special needs, particularly in acquiring Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). He writes: "As for the NHS, it was set up to treat people. It shouldn’t matter if your children are schooled publicly or privately. Nor should your postcode play a role. Nor whether or not you have a disability."

Ofsted has been accused of "offensive" and "clumsy" discrimination, after it emerged that a training manual used to teach hundreds of inspectors claims young people with autism are "more likely to develop special interests" and "can be drawn into extremism". The National Autistic Society has warned that the document risks further stigmatising autistic traits, amid growing concern over the number of autistic children being referred to Prevent, the government’s anti-radicalisation programme. The inspectorate has defended the document, saying that its training offers an understanding of different circumstances in which pupils might be more susceptible to extremism. By Rajeev Syal and Richard Adams, The Guardian.

Writing in Independent School Management Plus, Betty Abeng, CEO of the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET), explains how her organisation helps UK schools build effective international partnerships through supporting the professional development of teachers in low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Radley College is highlighted for its three-year partnership with the CET, which has been designed to encourage global citizenship across the school community. To find out more about the CET's partnerships, visit commonwealtheducationtrust.org. 

At the annual Council of British International Schools (COBIS) conference held in London last month, Geert Simons, director and CEO of St Andrew’s International School in Turi, Kenya, shared the inspiring journey of the school’s commitment to sustainability. Since 2023, St Andrew’s has planted 60,000 trees, and within the next three years the school aims to become fully self-sustaining in food, water, waste management, and energy. Explaining why staff are motivated to lead by example for teachers and pupils worldwide, Mr Simons said: "It’s a small effort for the school but a big result for the planet." By Emma Seith, Tes.

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