iNews talks to a number of headteachers who share their reactions to Labour's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms. Matthew Jessop, headteacher of Crosthwaite Primary School in Cumbria, says his real concern is the "lack of focus on teaching assistants", while Kulvarn Atwal, executive headteacher at Highlands Primary School in Essex, calls for schools to be given "the resources, funding and provision" to meet children’s needs. By Alannah Francis and Connie Dimsdale. 

Writing in Tes, Andy Wolfe, the Church of England’s interim chief education officer, says giving teachers more support must be the foundation on which the new SEND framework is built. "Let’s celebrate and elevate our Sendcos, specialist staff and teaching assistants," says Mr Wolfe, adding that resources and expectations must be in line so "we are not simply asking more of the same people without giving them the support they need to flourish".

Tes' SEND and inclusion editor, John Roberts, assesses the challenges facing ministers following the announcement of their proposed SEND reforms. Highlighting the importance of involving both schools and parents in the process, he writes: "As a parent of a child with special needs, I have a particular concern not just regarding these planned SEND reforms but also the wider policy discussion. That is the need for more recognition of the value of special schools – their staff and their pupils." 

Nine of the 10 largest providers of independent schools for children with SEND are backed by global investment firms, including sovereign wealth funds and US hedge funds, analysis by The Times has found. The companies are part of a booming market that ministers have accused of putting "profit before children". Speaking to the paper, Claire Dorer, chief executive of the National Association of Special Schools, said that while price caps and banding funding headlines had "attacked" independent schools, she believed the government’s concern was with a small group of private equity companies, not the sector as a whole. She also acknowledged that spending on independent special schools had risen sharply as pupil numbers had grown, but insisted that this did not amount to profiteering. By Mario Ledwith and Georgia Lambert.

Mumsnet has launched a campaign for a ban on social media for under-16s featuring advertising highlighting health warnings in the style of those on cigarette packets. The UK-based online forum and social network claims that teens who spend three or more hours a day on social media face higher risks of self-harm, anxiety, eating disorders and suicidal behaviour. The adverts are the latest stage of Mumsnet’s Rage Against the Screen campaign, which calls for stronger regulation of young people's social media access. By Anna Bawden, The Guardian. 

In the ISC's latest blog, Lawrence Collins, head of Heathfield Knoll School, says that introducing a new four-tier system for SEND provision might sound good in theory, but it risks leaving children without access to support tailored to their needs. "A rigid national tier system may simplify spreadsheets, but it will not deliver the kind of big, sustained change that Heathfield Knoll’s pupils and families have already shown is possible," he writes.

The Scottish government has ordered a public inquiry into grooming gangs. Professor Alexis Jay, who has been overseeing a national review of group-based abuse in Scotland, is to lead the inquiry, the scope of which has yet to be finalised. Commenting on the move, education secretary Jenny Gilruth said the government was "determined to act decisively to protect children", although opposition MSPs questioned why ministers had not ordered the inquiry earlier. By Glenn Campbell, BBC News. 

More than three-fifths of people regard teaching as an "unappealing" career option, a YouGov survey has found. The polling comes as Labour hopes to add 6,500 secondary and special-school teachers to the workforce by the end of this Parliament, as laid out in its new schools white paper. Some 62 per cent of respondents suggested the profession was not appealing to them, with nearly one in three (30 per cent) saying it was "very" unappealing. Teaching was viewed marginally more favourably by male respondents, with seven per cent calling it "very appealing" compared with six per cent of females. By Kyle Tormey, Tes.

In a series of written questions in the House of Commons, Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Health and Social Care) Dr Luke Evans asked whether the education secretary has made a recent estimate of the number of independent schools that have increased fees due to the VAT on fees policy, as well as an estimate of the proportion of independent schools in England that have increased fees because of the tax. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Olivia Bailey provided the same response to both questions, saying: "Private school fees and finances are a matter for private schools, as private businesses. Schools decide for themselves how to manage their finances including, for example the additional cost of VAT, the impact of the national minimum wage and in relation to any pay award they may choose to make."

In a separate question, Dr Evans asked whether ministers will assess the potential impact of a targeted subsidy for small charitable independent schools with fewer than 500 pupils. Responding, Ms Bailey referenced the government's tax information and impact note on applying VAT to independent school fees. "The department has announced allocations for at least £3 billion in high needs capital between 2026/27 and 2029/30 to support children and young people with SEND or those requiring alternative provision. This funding is expected to fund a transformative expansion of inclusion bases, as well as adaptations to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of mainstream settings. It can also be used to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs," she said. 

Dr Evans then requested to know if the education secretary has recently had discussions with local authorities regarding trends on level of demand for state SEND provision as a result of independent school pupils transferring to the state system, and what recent estimate she has made of the numbers of parents using private education due to issues with accessing SEND provision and education, health and care plans (EHCPs). Ms Bailey responded as above to both questions.

On the issue of single-sex schools, Dr Evans asked how many material change requests have been submitted by independent single-sex education settings seeking approval to become co-educational since January 2023 and January 2025. "The department has processed 1,232 material changes between 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2025. The department does not record data below this level in terms of types of school or type of material change," replied Ms Bailey. On recent discussions the education secretary has had with small independent schools regarding the impact of national living wage increases and teaching pay awards on their financial sustainability, Dr Evans was told that independent school fees and finances "are a matter for private schools, as private businesses". Ms Bailey added: "Schools decide for themselves how to manage their finances including, for example the additional cost of VAT, the impact of the national minimum wage and in relation to any pay award they may choose to make." Hansard.

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