The Learning Exchange Library

Special Educational Needs Information Act: An Analysis - 2011   This DfE document includes new information on pupils with SEN as well as further interpretation of existing findings. The Guardian has written a short blog highlighting some of the key parts.

Case Study: Ash Lea and Orchard Schools Holiday Programme    An example of how two schools in Nottinghamshire have focused on integrated working to offer their SEN pupils and families an outstanding holiday activities programme.

FAQs: special education needs   A list of questions about special education needs, updated on 8 March 2011.

SEN Green Paper: Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability   This Green Paper includes proposals to improve outcomes for children and young people who are disabled or have SEN, to minimise the adversarial nature of the system for families, as well as simplify processes related to the statementing of children with special needs.

Special education needs documents and links   This link takes you to a search engine page on the Department for Education website. From time to time, we shall feature one of these SEN documents or links in Library Gems - or when there is an event, policy or funding announcement, or a news item related to SEN.

Disability toolkit   Research shows that collecting robust and consistent disability information helps schools better identify and respond to the needs of their disabled pupils, and can promote better inclusion of SEN pupils by helping schools to meet their duties under equalities and disability legislation. This link takes you to a toolkit that schools may find helpful in identifying and collecting information about their SEN pupils. There are also links to other useful SEN resources.

Children with special education needs: an analysis   Characteristics and attainment data relating to pupils with special educational needs, plus their school absence and exclusion rates can be found here. Last updated in February 2011.

Sendist Tribunals Service   The First Tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs & Disability

Research brief: The early years transition & special educational needs (EYTSEN) project   This research brief summarises which children are reported by teachers as having SEN at primary school, and how such identification relates to measures of ‘at risk’ status. It also examines parents’ perceptions of SEN and their experiences of support and satisfaction with how needs are met. It summarises patterns of development to help identify and establish good practice in supporting SEN children.

Will the new academies leave out children with special educational needs?   Fiona Millar analyses the new rules and how they relate to SEN.

A guide to disabled children’s services in England and Wales   An explanation of your rights and how you can get the support you need from your local authority through departments like social services. The way local authorities work is changing at the moment and here it explains some of the changes you can expect to see.

'I came to see the school as a little corner of paradise'   A parent gives a personal account of the battle with her council over the needs of her child.

Why do children with special needs still get such a raw educational deal?   An in-depth and personal article by the father of a boy with special educational needs examining the current state of SEN providers and the future promised in the coming election.