More children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on the Isle of Wight will be supported to thrive in their local nursery, school or college, as the government unveils the most ambitious and comprehensive SEND training offer ever seen in England’s education system.
Informed by feedback from parents through the national conversation on SEND – including a recent discussion between Richard Quigley MP and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson – the government is acting to ensure teachers have the skills and confidence they need to support pupils with additional needs.
Parents and educators consistently highlighted that SEND training has been too inconsistent, with almost half of primary and secondary teachers saying that additional training would improve their confidence in supporting pupils with SEND.
That is why Richard Quigley MP has warmly welcomed the government’s reforms, which aim to give families confidence that their child can achieve and thrive in their local school, no matter where they live.
Through the new training programme, staff will learn practical, evidence-based approaches that transform access to education – including the use of assistive technology such as speech-to-text tools, and strategies to build understanding and inclusion among all pupils.
The programme will be underpinned by a new expectation in the SEND Code of Practice, making clear that all staff in every nursery, school and college should receive training in SEND and inclusion, ensuring nationwide coverage.
This national investment sits alongside £4 million in dedicated funding to create additional SEND places on the Isle of Wight, strengthening local provision and capacity.
Richard Quigley MP said:
“During my extensive discussions with teachers working in the SEND system, one of the most common concerns was not a lack of willingness to help, but feeling ill-equipped to meet the challenges of SEN. This investment shows that the government is listening from the ground up.
Article continues below this advertisement “When I spoke to the Education Secretary last week, I made it clear that while the £4 million in SEND funding for the Island was very welcome, it needed to be complemented by stronger training support. I am delighted that this announcement delivers exactly that.”
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:
“Every child, wherever they live and whatever their needs, should have the opportunity to go to a local school where they can achieve and thrive.
“That’s why we’re equipping staff across every stage of education with more training on SEND and inclusion than ever before – helping to deliver our vision of a truly inclusive education system.
“This is a key part of our mission to reform the SEND system so that schools can take children from forgotten to included and give parents the confidence that the right support will be there at every stage of their child’s education.”
The Schools White Paper will be published early this year, setting out the government’s full plans to reform the SEND system.
Good, and then after the training for all educators to recognise the signs, accept that it is necessary to roll out the ‘inclusion’ policy to ALL students and teach them exactly as you would a SEND student. After the narrow and difficult pathway to diagnosis, far too many students who clearly have trouble navigating the classroom and the learning but don’t meet the criteria fall through the cracks and are put off education for life.
Will any of this 4 million go towards the taxi cost of getting “send” kids to school (2.5 million at the last count), I doubt it, that will still come out of council tax payers money.
No, as said in the piece, it’s for training the educators. And as some schools don’t have the expertise or facilities to accommodate all children, some kids have to travel miles unaccompanied, as it would be costly and impractical for the caregiver, plus their other children, to travel miles at their own cost and sometimes in opposite directions. That would be discrimination. ALL children regardless of income, disability etc are awarded free transport (which we also pay for) over certain distance to the designated school, but still they shut the nearer schools down. Try asking how much the contract for the buses is worth, then start your whining where it ought to be directed…the school cuts themselves.
That’s my point they don’t get on a bus with other people, they apparently can’t cope with that, so are expected to use a taxi which costs a fortune, time that stopped.
Let’s hope the teachers at Send schools are vetted thoroughly one school on The Island seems to have missed that particular remit.
Here he is he has popped up again out of nowhere.wrigly Quigly on another pr stunt. Let’s play spot wrigly next competition certainly won’t be when iow council funding is cut by Liebor. General election now before it’s all to late.
Wrigley quigley pr photo opportunities 1 wrigly Quigley getting anything done 0 .Ferry prices reduced 0 ferry service improvements 0 has he had his 100 days yet? Talks bull**it and delivers nothing . Labour out asap.