News

Abbot’s Lea School in Woolton has welcomed four new members to its team, including one former student. 

The school specialises in highest quality holistic education for young people with Autism and associated complex learning and social needs. It currently employs some 120 staff and is striving to be an International Centre of Excellence in Autism Education, Research and Professional Development.

Joining the strategic leadership team is Micah Grimshaw. A fully qualified and experienced special education teacher, she takes on a role of the head of autism research and development, being responsible for creating, implementing and promoting the school’s autism research and development strategy.

Hillcrest Shifnal School, an independent specialist setting in Shropshire for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, is thrilled to have been granted permission from the Department for Education to extend its provision to support Key Stage 1 (KS1) students from the age of five - previously it catered for students aged 7-19. The new extension reflects a growing demand for early intervention, which has been shown to help students with SEMH needs to realise their potential and significantly increase their chances of re-accessing mainstream education. 

Play therapist and Great Ormond Street ambassador Amanda Seyderhelm is launching a specialist play therapy service which will address the increasing needs of children struggling with issues related to loss and change. Based in the Lincolnshire town of Stamford, Amanda will focus on the requirements of children aged between seven and 10.

Get set for a new look Bett and powerful proposition for the world’s education community  

With more than 200 speakers, 800 exhibitors and 34,000 visitors at London’s ExCeL last week, Bett continued to build on its offer to educators, technologists and decision makers. 

More than one in ten primary school children are spending over five hours on homework each week, according to a study looking into the pressure pupils are put under during their school years.

Research by home education provider Oxford Home Schooling reveals that even primary school children are being strained by the prospect of their academic performance.

The study reveals that, alongside a third (33%) of parents saying their child feels stressed by exams, two in five parents (40%) of pupils aged between five and 11 feel there is too much pressure on their children to perform well in them.

On Thursday 7th March 2019 (World Book Day), Achievement for All will be launching their biggest challenge yet as they bring children and young people across the world together to collectively attempt to read for 200 Million Minutes!!

Following the huge success of the charity’s 100 Million Minutes Reading Challenge in March 2018, which saw more than 420,000 children and young people collectively read for 100,019,560 minutes, Achievement for All is doubling the target to 200 Million Minutes. For the first time the challenge is open to schools, settings, families, libraries, community groups, businesses and organisations from across the world to help achieve this never before-reached target! 

When you visit the stunning, eco-friendly, 40 acre campus on the Dorset/Hampshire border it becomes apparent why this college is a first choice for parents and young adults with special educational needs.

Individual buildings linked by natural pathways through green open spaces and woodland give a sense of calm and wellbeing. Exclusive onsite facilities include a gym hall, heated indoor swimming pool, kitchen garden and purpose-built therapy building offering onsite specialist input from occupational, physiotherapy as well as complementary therapies such as massage, music and art.

Teachers of the Deaf, who provide vital help and support to deaf children throughout their education, have been reduced by 7% in the last year, a new report from the Consortium for Research into Deaf Education reveals. 

The figures also show that almost one in three (29%) have now been cut since the annual report began eight years ago.

In the 2010/11 academic year, there were 88 fully-qualified specialist teachers for the region’s deaf children. This had fallen to 67 by 2016/17 and the total now stands at just 62.

The National Deaf Children’s Society, which is part of the group that produces the report, says specialist teachers have a huge impact on the lives of deaf children, starting at diagnosis and lasting throughout their education. 

The British Assistive Technology Association (BATA) welcomes the Department for Education’s continued commitment to support disabled and neurodiverse students in higher education through the provision of Disabled Student Allowances (DSA).

However, the plans to tender the provision of assistive technology equipment and training, have led to uncertainty about the future of DSA and the wider industry that supports disabled students.

The sector body is calling on government to ensure there is thorough consultation with industry stakeholders, higher education providers and students.