PHILLIPSON SAYS THAT LONG TERM WORK IS NEEDED TO TRANSFORM THE SEND SYSTEM

This week the Secretary of State for Education,?Bridget Phillipson MP,?urged ‘patience’ on SEND reforms and whilst highlighting the short and medium term work being undertaking said:

'I think longer term we do need to look at the system overall because I hear time and again that it’s broken, that it isn’t working and that we need to make it better.'?

The SEND system has been in crisis for some time and at the FED our 4-year consultation has shown that the strategic education system is missing the parts that allow it to deliver effectively over the long-term. Its the reason that successive governments have failed to create a world class SEND system that our children and young people so richly deserve.

One such strategic mechanism that is missing is?a National Education Assembly.?We believe such a mechanism could help solve the SEND crisis, and indeed stop it happening again.?We believe this process should be integrated into our decision-making systems. Engaging stakeholders effectively has the potential to drive meaningful and sustainable change within the education sector.

At our upcoming Summit with over 40 speakers and?over 20 sessions, one session focuses on 'How can we build a truly inclusive school system?' with Peter Gaul, Principal of King’s Leadership Academy, Viv Grant FRSA , Director?of Integrity Coaching, Ellie Costello , Executive Director of Square Peg, and Ashraf Ali MBE FRSA , Strategic Partnership Manager at the READ Foundation?UK.

Come and join us in Manchester at our?4th National Education Summit: First Steps for Change in Education?and have your voice help drive the changes that will define the educational experience for generations to come.

Book your tickets here, read the programme?and?read the summit speaker list.

The FED highly values lived experience across the education system. That is why we are pleased?to support the UCL?event with speakers?Bernardita Munoz Chereau,?UCL,?Kate Irvine,?Bristol City Council, and?Dame Alison Peacock. Nafeesah, one of our FED Learner Council Members?and Jo Malone, FRSA, from the FED Executive Team, explained how we consult with a broad range of stakeholders, how we do it and with what effect. Nafeesah made a compelling case for including?learner voice in policy discussions and did FED proud outlining the FED's proposal for there to be a National Education Assembly as part of their long-term education policy making approach.?As Jo said?in the webinar:

"Absolutely everything that the FED has produced - on our website, in various papers and publications and critically in our reports, the final one of which was published in July - with our recommendations for longer-term planning mechanisms and processes - has been created by our vast body of stakeholders. The FED’s work belongs to them?- we have done the job of organising, convening, listening, synthesising, analysing, checking, reporting and advocating."

In partnership with Hays Education Michelle Storer , we are delighted to be hosting a free breakfast seminar entitled?‘School in the Community: Community in the School’ with keynote speakers, Frank Norris MBE FCCT & Jamila Kossar MBE in Manchester on Wednesday 13th November. To find our more and register your place click here.