News

NASS CEO Claire Dorer OBE underscores the need for the voices and experiences of children and young people with SEND, and their families, to be central to conversations around Independent Special Schools. The priority should always be ensuring that every child receives the right support in the right setting so they can thrive, both now and in the future.

With 75% of the education workforce being female, menopause awareness isn’t just a women’s issue it is a workplace issue. In her guest blog for NASS, Julie explores why ALL staff need to understand menopause to help retain talent, support wellbeing and create an inclusive school environment.

Welcome to NASS’s summary of major SEND policy news and announcements over the past term. It’s certainly been a lively time for speculation about SEND, even if we don’t have anything confirmed yet about major policy changes.

Aurora Hanley School won the 2024 Innovation NASS Awards for its brilliant children’s community cooking project. Headteacher Julie Martin shares more about the project and the impact it is having on the school's young people and local community.

In this guest blog, Dr Matt Silver explores the importance of space, dialogue and sense-making in leadership development. He shares evidence that investing in coaching is essential for the future of special schools.

We turn the spotlight on Arc Oakbridge School and its innovative use of music technology which led to it being recognised as a finalist in the Innovation category of our 2024 NASS Awards. Headteacher Headteacher Jilly McCarrick shares how one particular project brought the school community together and had a lasting impact on the students involved.

In this guest blog for NASS, Darren Coxon, Founder of Kompass Education and a recognised expert in AI for education, unpacks these recent announcements and explores what they will mean for the future of AI in SEND education. NASS is currently partnering with Darren on a first-of-its-kind AI pilot programme for special schools, involving 11 of our member schools and exploring how AI can support a wide range of SEND needs.

We are delighted to share our 2024 Impact Report.
‘Belong Here: Our 2024 Impact Report’ showcases our key achievements and ongoing commitment to informing, recognising, and representing special schools across England and Wales. With a strong voice for the sector, expert support and advice, and high-quality events and training, we continue to make a difference.

Dan Tresman, Lisa Bond and Simone Hopkins have joined our NASS Council.

The Children's Trust School’s Sensory Careers Project is an inspiring initiative recognised as a finalist in the Innovation category of our 2024 NASS Awards. Headteacher Launa Randles shares more about the the programme and the impact it has had.

While the bill lacks a strong focus on SEND, Mari Davis summarises the bill's key themes in her latest blogs, including safeguarding, regulation of children’s homes, the impact on academies and provisions for children not in school.

We turn the spotlight on this year's Breaking Barriers NASS Award winner, Treloar School and how their participation in Dance Live 2024 set new benchmarks for accessibility and inclusivity in performance spaces.