National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

@beyondautism.bsky.social @ambitiousautism.bsky.social

Lots of briefings and analysis this week for our members on Schools White Paper & SEND Consultation.

We’ve also been hearing from leaders across our special school community about what these proposals could mean for their learners, families & schools👇
www.linkedin.com/posts/nasssc...

‘Chaotic SEND reform leaks have caused anxiety and entrenchment’ The narrative of SEND reform is also hugely problematic, argues Warren Carratt

'Policy announcement by leak has created the worst of all worlds'

@warrencarratt.bsky.social on how a week of SEND reform leaks have likely caused entrenchment - and indicate a worrying narrative for the path ahead.

www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

The Govt is announcing this policy from a data void, with no formal evidence on costs, price or value to back its claims. In 2024, @nao.org.uk reported that while overall spend on ISS is rising, it’s due to more LA placements, not higher cost per pupil. School fees are not ‘spiralling’.

NASS response to DfE announcement on banded funding for specialist places | NASS Today, 20th February, the Department for Education has given a preview of an element of the Schools White Paper/SEND Consultation by announcing plans to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based...

In announcing its plans to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based as part of future SEND Reforms, Government has chosen to focus attention on independent special schools. That framing deflects from the reality that this will affect all special schools- www.nasschools.org.uk/nass-respons...

NASS response to DfE announcement on banded funding for specialist places | NASS Today, 20th February, the Department for Education has given a preview of an element of the Schools White Paper/SEND Consultation by announcing plans to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based...

In announcing its plans to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based as part of future SEND Reforms, Government has chosen to focus attention on independent special schools. That framing deflects from the reality that this will affect all special schools- www.nasschools.org.uk/nass-respons...

NASS response to DfE announcement on banded funding for specialist places | NASS Today, 20th February, the Department for Education has given a preview of an element of the Schools White Paper/SEND Consultation by announcing plans to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based...

Today's announcement to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based as part of future SEND Reforms will affect all special schools.

Read our response: www.nasschools.org.uk/nass-respons...

NASS response to DfE announcement on banded funding for specialist places | NASS Today, 20th February, the Department for Education has given a preview of an element of the Schools White Paper/SEND Consultation by announcing plans to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based...

You can read NASS’s full response to the announcement, a shameful attack on special schools that overlooks the crucial role they play in transforming children’s lives:
www.nasschools.org.uk/nass-respons...

Government has announced plans to move EHCP funding from individual to band-based as part of future SEND Reforms. In announcing the change it has chosen to focus attention on independent special schools. That framing deflects from the reality that this will affect all special schools. Read more ⬇️

The impact of the HoNOSCA Framework | National Association of Special Schools (NASS) Quorn Hall School, an independent special school in Leicestershire, was a 2025 NASS Award finalist in the Innovation category for its pioneering use of the HoNOSCA mental health framework to deepen understanding of pupil needs and transform whole-school practice. The school caters for children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs, many of whom have additional special educational needs and diagnoses such as autism and ADHD. By moving from observing behaviours to clinically informed insight, the school has created meaningful change that is improving wellbeing, learning and belonging for every student. In this guest blog, Anna Fitzpatrick shares her reflections on how the HoNOSCA framework is changing lives, and how a therapeutic, evidence-led approach is helping students truly thrive. #Innovation #NASSAwards2025 Cavendish Education Group

Quorn Hall School was a 2025 NASS Award finalist for its innovative use of the HoNOSCA mental health framework to deepen understanding of pupil needs & transform whole-school practice ⬇️
www.linkedin.com/posts/nasssc...

We call on the Government to engage with special schools in any plans to introduce banded funding to avoid a catastrophic loss of specialist provision.

Suggesting an upper figure for a price cap in the absence of any meaningful data about the cost, price and value of specialist provision is a reckless act of politicking. ⬇️

To treat all special school provision as if it is the same is an attack on specialism and an attack on the children whose lives are transformed by it. ⬇️

Pupils' SEND support to be reviewed after primary, leaked plans suggest Leaks suggest plans for a complete redesign of special educational needs and disabilities support in schools.

We are deeply disappointed to see media leaks this morning suggesting that the Government intends to impose a price cap on special school fees as part of the forthcoming Schools White Paper and SEND reforms. ⬇️

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

SEND training alone won’t work – we need therapeutic education The government’s announcement about training all teachers in SEND is welcome, but learning environments need to change to deliver inclusion, argues Dr Thomas Keaney

The plan to give all teachers SEND training can’t ‘undo environments that continue to overwhelm, exclude and destabilise the very children they are meant to support’, writes Thomas Keaney, making the case for therapeutic education

Disabled children’s legal rights are ‘red lines’ in Send overhaul, ministers warned Exclusive: Charities and experts fear changes to special needs education may weaken legal protections

Ahead of the government’s Schools White Paper, @dcpcampaign.bsky.social is calling for a system that gives schools and colleges the funding, training, and support they need - with families treated as partners.
You can read more here:
www.theguardian.com/education/20...

#SEND #FightForOrdinary

Article in today's Tes magazine from NASS trustee and CEO of TCES Group (The Complete Education Solution), Thomas Keaney, on why their special schools are mobile phone free and the positive impact it is making in preparing young people for life.

YouTube video by NASS Swalcliffe Park School - 2025 NASS Award Finalist

🎥 Watch a short film about the QoL framework and network: youtu.be/MVqZk67lQD0

What does success really look like for autistic young people – and who decides?

In this guest blog, Kiran Hingorani (CEO, @SwalcliffePark) shares how their Quality of Life framework helped make them a 2025 #NASSAwards Innovation finalist.

Read more 👇
www.linkedin.com/posts/nasssc...

Why oracy matters for learners with speech and language difficulties | National Association of Special Schools (NASS) We’re pleased to share this guest blog from one of our member schools, Moor House School & College. Written by Sue Marr, Specialist Teacher & Trainer at the Moor House Research and Training Institute,...

www.linkedin.com/posts/nasssc...

We’re pleased to share this blog from Sue Marr, Specialist Teacher and Trainer at @moorhouseinstitute.com, explaining why oracy matters for learners with speech and language difficulties, including DLD, and what a stronger focus on spoken language could mean for inclusion and learning in schools.

Sustainable change depends on understanding what works in practice, where barriers persist, and how partnership, workforce development and shared expertise can be strengthened nationally. There are no better experts than those already leading this work.

We would have liked to see this expertise more fully inform and co-create the reforms set out in the upcoming Schools White Paper. #SENDReform
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Special schools already provide highly specialist support and share expertise across the system. This collaborative work is strengthening inclusion, but it happens despite the system, not because of it. #Inclusion
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The Schools Minister’s comments yesterday are a welcome recognition of the essential role special schools play in supporting pupils with SEND and the need for closer working between mainstream and specialist provision. #SEND #SpecialSchools
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We already have great SEND schools. Let’s learn from them | National Association of Special Schools (NASS) With speculation growing about the long-awaited schools white paper, and no clarity yet on its timing or content, we were pleased to read Lord Blunkett’s opinion piece in The Times yesterday, recognis...

With speculation growing about the schools white paper and no clarity on timing or content, we were pleased to read Lord Blunkett’s piece in @thetimes.com recognising the vital role special schools play & need to “harness the power and expertise in special schools.”
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

You won't want to miss it‼️

www.linkedin.com/posts/dranit...

#SEND #specialschools #AP

We’re hiring!

2025 will be a pivotal year for SEND reform and we’re looking for a Policy and Research Intern to join our small, ambitious team at NASS.

For further details on the role and to download the recruitment pack: nasschools.org.uk/jobs/19362/

Short on time? Here's a quick, visual version:

All we want for Christmas are SEND Reforms...but what happens if they turn out to be a foot spa rather than a spaceship? | NASS SummaryWith the long-awaited Schools White Paper on the horizon, hopes are high — but so is the risk of disappointment. Drawing on the humour of a festive metaphor, NASS CEO Claire Dorer OBE reflects ...

🎄 All we want for Christmas is SEND reforms… but what if they fall short?

With the Schools White Paper coming, hopes are high but so is risk of disappointment. NASS CEO Claire Dorer reminds us special schools can still make it work for children with SEND.

www.nasschools.org.uk/all-we-want-...