Weekly Newsletter - 9.1.2025

Plus: Discover the latest AI tools streamlining EHCP processesšŸ“Š

Special Educational Needs

Welcome to UK GovTech SEND, your weekly newsletter offering the latest insights, strategies, and updates to help UK educators and leaders champion inclusivity and innovation in special educational needs and disabilities. As we kick off 2025, letā€™s seize new opportunities to drive positive change and make this year one of progress and impact in SEND.

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EHCP TECHNOLOGY

The world of SEND is facing a real crisis. Case workers are overwhelmed with growing caseloads, endless paperwork, and the pressure to meet deadlines, all while trying to ensure that every child gets the support they deserve.

Thatā€™s where EHCP Plus comes in. Designed with case workers in mind, this innovative tool harnesses the power of Generative AI to completely transform how EHCPs are created and managed. With EHCP Plus, you can save hours on drafting plans, reduce errors, and streamline the whole process, giving you more time to focus on what really mattersā€”helping children and their families.

Weā€™ve all seen how delays and inconsistencies in EHCPs can affect the lives of children with special educational needs. Itā€™s not just about meeting deadlines; itā€™s about making sure each child gets the tailored support they need to thrive.

If youā€™re ready to see how EHCP Plus can transform your SEND services, watch on to learn more. Together, we can make a difference.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Education Select Committee tackles the SEND system crisis, aiming for immediate stabilisation and sustainable solutions. Seeking evidence by January 2025, the inquiry prioritises children's experiences, urging solutions that alleviate pressures on authorities and improve outcomes for children with SEND across schools and local services.

EDUCATION POLICY

James Searjeant, headteacher at Wyborne Primary, argues for a reformed assessment system that acknowledges all pupils' progress, especially those with SEND and EHCPs. Current metrics distort achievements and discourage inclusion. Schools should focus on holistic growth, urging policymakers to address this inclusion crisis in 2025.

Hi all, Iā€™m Sarah - a former SEND Caseworker and now a SEND Advisor with Agilisys Transform helping create the next generation of AI tools for improving SEND provision. I was not always involved in SEND, as previously I was an editor of childrenā€™s educational books. I developed a passion for childrenā€™s learning and development so later re-trained and became a teacher in a special school. Following this, I worked as a SEND Caseworker/EHC Plan Writer for around 12 years. As a teacher and caseworker, my main focus has always been in improving outcomes for children with SEND and their families.

Due to drastic budget cuts to Local Authorities and particularly SEND Departments over the last 14 years, the difference I could make to outcomes for children as a Caseworker became negligible. It was impossible to meet statutory deadlines and get EHC Plans written on time for young people and their families. It also became increasingly difficult to engage with families due to time constraints and this created a lot of frustration and hurt for parents/carers and young people. I became frustrated that the system meant to support young people with SEND to achieve their full potential was failing them.

One day I was contacted by Agilisys (totally out of the blue!). They had seen my profile on LinkedIn and wanted to discuss a possible role as a SEND Practitioner, providing my insight into a suite of Generative AI tools that they were building with SEND professionals across the country. A week later, I was working in their London office as an EHCP/SEND advisor on the development of their flagship EHC Plan writing tool, ā€˜EHCP Plusā€™!

Moving into the world of tech and AI has been a steep learning curve for me, but I have been so impressed by the dedication of everyone here and their commitment to using technology to improve lives. It has been really inspirational and I can see the huge difference that EHCP Plus will make with regard to reducing the time taken to write an EHCP and ensuring that people like me who were Caseworkers and EHC plan writers can spend more time with families.

You will be seeing my face every week, as I share some of my key learnings and insights on technology, AI and the impact they can have on SEND services. This will be digestible accessible content, written for people who may not be incredibly familiar with Generative AI and the beneficial impact it can have on your work. I am learning as I go, just like you ā€“ so if you have any thoughts ā€“ please do add me on LinkedIn and I would love to hear them!

EDUCATION CRISIS

A speech and language crisis affects UK schools, exacerbated by Covid-19 and technology. Despite rising concerns, evidence is limited and intervention is uneven. Experts urge schools to enhance teacher training and support, prioritising long-term language development across educational stages to mitigate academic and behavioural consequences.

EDUCATION POLICY

MPs will question Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver on January 7 regarding school inspection reforms, including the move to report cards and inspection of multi-academy trusts. Concerns over safeguarding, specialist inspector knowledge, and issues from Ruth Perryā€™s case will be addressed in this urgent session.