THIS WEEK’S RADAR🎯

• LGA Drinks Reception: Join us July 1st to explore GenAI’s impact on SEND and EHCPs.

• Labour Plan: New reforms aim to boost SEND inclusion in mainstream schools.

• North Tyneside Win: £990k fund slashes suspensions and lifts SEND support.

• EHCP Breakthrough: Stoke Council boosts EHCP timeliness to 83% with Agilisys EHCP.

• STEM Boost: Middlesbrough College students bring robotics to SEND pupils.

• AI in Schools: UK backs global guidelines and funds AI pilots for inclusive ed.

Attending LGA? You're Invited: UK GovTech Drinks Reception – Focus on Special Educational Needs

📅 Tuesday 1st July

🕕 6:00 – 7:30 PM

📍 LGA Conference, Liverpool

Are you attending the Local Government Association Conference in Liverpool?

Join us for an exclusive drinks reception hosted by UK GovTech, exploring the growing role of Generative AI in supporting Children’s Services—with a specific focus on SEND.

Drop in, drop out. This event will bring together local government leaders, education professionals, and innovators to share learnings from pioneering councils, discuss the challenges in EHCP delivery, and uncover how GenAI can enhance outcomes for children and families navigating the SEND system.

🔗 Register your interest here.

EDUCATION REFORM

Labour Proposes Mainstream School Reforms For Special Educational Needs Inclusion

Labour proposes reforms to the special educational needs system by increasing inclusion in mainstream schools, addressing both rising absenteeism and unsustainable costs—currently at £12 billion annually. These changes respond to widespread concerns over poor behaviour, strained resources, and mounting pressure on local authorities. Immediate action is essential to prevent further deterioration of educational outcomes for all pupils.

EDUCATIONAL INCLUSION

£990,000 Fuels Inclusive School Projects For SEND Children In North Tyneside

North Tyneside Council’s £990,000 inclusion funding has supported 44 schools in establishing environments and projects centred on children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, enhancing emotional wellbeing and reducing suspensions by 60% in at least one school. With 30 initiatives still ongoing, the programme demonstrates measurable improvements in support and attendance, offering a proven approach for schools seeking practical frameworks to better meet the diverse needs of vulnerable pupils.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Some Absolutely Fantastic News Out of Stoke City Council

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is leading the way by using Agilisys’s EHCP tool to transform how EHCPs are drafted! ​

Faced with growing demand, the council had struggled to meet the national target of issuing 60% of EHCPs within 20 weeks – hitting just 43% in 2023–24. But thanks to a new AI tool that helps case workers quickly extract and structure information from reports, that figure has now jumped to 83% in April this year.​

This is the future of EHCP Drafting – get your council involved now and experience the transformative impact just like Stoke has! ​Be sure to reach out to grab one of the last free trial spots!

STEM EDUCATION 

College Students Lead Robotics Workshops For Pupils With Special Educational Needs

Middlesbrough College students have been teaching robotics and digital skills to pupils with special educational needs at Discovery Special Academy, creating hands-on workshops and resources tailored to complex learning needs. The partnership addresses gaps in STEM access and fosters mutual skill development, with ongoing plans to expand digital learning opportunities. Such collaborative efforts are crucial in tackling educational inequality and ensuring sustained, practical support for underrepresented learners.

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

UK Endorses Global Guidelines for Responsible Use of AI in Schools

The UK government will support global guidelines for generative AI use in schools, committing £1.1 million to pilot projects aimed at improving inclusivity and teacher workloads. Current policy emphasises safety and prohibits using pupils’ work for AI training without consent. Immediate action is needed as AI reshapes education.

YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS🗳️