SEND | FE Week - Part 14

New children and families minister must continue to implement SEND reforms

With Edward Timpson a shock casualty of the election, we can’t let his SEND overhaul drop off the agenda, says Clare Howard Edward Timpson, the minister overseeing a complete overhaul of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, lost his seat at the election. Widely respected for his dedication and passion, he will a […]

‘Patchy’ progress with work training for special needs

A government drive to help young people with learning difficulties and disabilities prepare for the world of work is making “patchy” progress, despite plans to make it universal. So-called ‘supported internships’ were first introduced through a pilot in autumn 2012 with 15 FE colleges. They are unpaid study programmes for 16- to 24-year-olds lasting around […]

National charity opens London’s first-ever autism college

A national autism charity has celebrated the official launch of London’s first-ever FE college for learners with complex autism. Samantha King reports Operating across two campuses in Tottenham and Isleworth, Ambitious College is the first specialist day college solely for young people with autism, catering for those between the ages of 16 to 25. After […]

Institute for Apprenticeships silent on learning difficulties and disabilities

The Institute for Apprenticeships has been silent on learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, and that’s simply not good enough, says David Harbourne When I was still at school, I helped a partially-sighted boy practise reading. Both of us had ambitions, but he faced more challenges than I did. It was a lesson I never forgot. […]

How to create inclusive learning spaces

To successfully create inclusive spaces for those with learning difficulties, the entire organisation needs to be brought on-board, says Karen Roberts. While dyslexia is estimated to affect around 10 per cent of the general population (four per cent severely), the figure is estimated at around one third in young offender institutions. If colleges and FE […]

Council forces students with special needs to pay over £600 in travel costs

One council’s controversial decision to make families of students with disabilities or special needs to pay for college transport costs has come under fire from an autism charity and the National Union of Students. Sunderland City Council started charging families £600 per academic year to transport each post-16 student with educational needs or disabilities (SEND) […]