Ellie Harris
@eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social
Head of the Who is Losing Learning? Campaign, former DfE civil servant. Niche topics I’ll talk for hours about include the SEN notional budget, off-rolling & pupil movements, EHCP legislation (also Midwest emo & greys anatomy).
Reposted by Ellie Harris
America: No Kings
Britain: No Dukes of York
Britain: No Dukes of York
October 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
America: No Kings
Britain: No Dukes of York
Britain: No Dukes of York
This is a must read.
💬“you cannot magic quality into existence by writing it on a legal document.“
The legislating of rights does not necessarily equal quality of support or good outcomes. Our focus must be on securing the latter, not lobbying for a status quo that fails so many.
💬“you cannot magic quality into existence by writing it on a legal document.“
The legislating of rights does not necessarily equal quality of support or good outcomes. Our focus must be on securing the latter, not lobbying for a status quo that fails so many.
Today, we publish a new piece on SEND reform. The problems and risks are well known, so I just wanted to reflect on the solutions... [1/6]
ifs.org.uk/articles/eng...
ifs.org.uk/articles/eng...
September 13, 2025 at 12:34 PM
This is a must read.
💬“you cannot magic quality into existence by writing it on a legal document.“
The legislating of rights does not necessarily equal quality of support or good outcomes. Our focus must be on securing the latter, not lobbying for a status quo that fails so many.
💬“you cannot magic quality into existence by writing it on a legal document.“
The legislating of rights does not necessarily equal quality of support or good outcomes. Our focus must be on securing the latter, not lobbying for a status quo that fails so many.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
Frustrating how "it's hard to change people's views" has metastasised into "there's no point ever making an argument".
August 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Frustrating how "it's hard to change people's views" has metastasised into "there's no point ever making an argument".
Reposted by Ellie Harris
There is no solution to any of these problems that doesn’t involve building 500k or so homes a year that will bring real negative pressure on rent by materially outstripping new housing demand.
August 16, 2025 at 10:04 AM
There is no solution to any of these problems that doesn’t involve building 500k or so homes a year that will bring real negative pressure on rent by materially outstripping new housing demand.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
Israeli tactics:
1. Stop aid entering Gaza
2. Deny famine is taking place
3. When famine becomes undeniable, stall as long as possible
4. When western pressure mounts, do the minimum possible
5. When western attention moves on, return to step 1.
1. Stop aid entering Gaza
2. Deny famine is taking place
3. When famine becomes undeniable, stall as long as possible
4. When western pressure mounts, do the minimum possible
5. When western attention moves on, return to step 1.
July 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Israeli tactics:
1. Stop aid entering Gaza
2. Deny famine is taking place
3. When famine becomes undeniable, stall as long as possible
4. When western pressure mounts, do the minimum possible
5. When western attention moves on, return to step 1.
1. Stop aid entering Gaza
2. Deny famine is taking place
3. When famine becomes undeniable, stall as long as possible
4. When western pressure mounts, do the minimum possible
5. When western attention moves on, return to step 1.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
‘There is nothing to buy’: Gaza’s descent into mass starvation https://on.ft.com/4o5I46b
‘There is nothing to buy’: Gaza’s descent into mass starvation
Israel’s offensive and aid curbs tip enclave of 2.1mn Palestinians into famine
on.ft.com
July 26, 2025 at 11:42 AM
‘There is nothing to buy’: Gaza’s descent into mass starvation https://on.ft.com/4o5I46b
Reposted by Ellie Harris
In policy terms, the search for 'things that are not scrapping the limit but tackle child povery' has just led to a bunch of policies that don't work all that well. Labour well on its way to spending enough on 'things to make Labour MPs less unhappy about not doing two child' to have done two child.
July 21, 2025 at 2:11 PM
In policy terms, the search for 'things that are not scrapping the limit but tackle child povery' has just led to a bunch of policies that don't work all that well. Labour well on its way to spending enough on 'things to make Labour MPs less unhappy about not doing two child' to have done two child.
Great illustration of getting schools right for SEND in this post - kids who needs the most teaching, getting the best teachers:
“Double staffing for classes with higher levels of need or vulnerability reflects building teaching and learning for the needs of the most vulnerable first”
“Double staffing for classes with higher levels of need or vulnerability reflects building teaching and learning for the needs of the most vulnerable first”
I wrote about my fears we're sleeping walking into policy groupthink on SEND units, and the very real risks with that direction of travel:
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
open.substack.com/pub/jimlaude...
Beanbag rooms
We need to hit the brakes on the emerging groupthink around SEND units in mainstream schools
open.substack.com
July 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Great illustration of getting schools right for SEND in this post - kids who needs the most teaching, getting the best teachers:
“Double staffing for classes with higher levels of need or vulnerability reflects building teaching and learning for the needs of the most vulnerable first”
“Double staffing for classes with higher levels of need or vulnerability reflects building teaching and learning for the needs of the most vulnerable first”
Hidden in this post is a really important point on education & ‘white working class boys’.
💬 “We’d be much better off talking about persistent or multi-generational disadvantage than ethnicity and it would lead to the same policy solutions.”
💬 “We’d be much better off talking about persistent or multi-generational disadvantage than ethnicity and it would lead to the same policy solutions.”
New post just out
"Blood and Soil"
Race and the radicalisation of the British right.
Looking at why mainstream figures on the right are using increasingly racist language and ideas. And why the centre/centre-left is struggling to contain it.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/blood-and-...
"Blood and Soil"
Race and the radicalisation of the British right.
Looking at why mainstream figures on the right are using increasingly racist language and ideas. And why the centre/centre-left is struggling to contain it.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/blood-and-...
Blood and Soil
Race and the radicalisation of the British right
samf.substack.com
July 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Hidden in this post is a really important point on education & ‘white working class boys’.
💬 “We’d be much better off talking about persistent or multi-generational disadvantage than ethnicity and it would lead to the same policy solutions.”
💬 “We’d be much better off talking about persistent or multi-generational disadvantage than ethnicity and it would lead to the same policy solutions.”
Great to see another piece of ace research by @thedifferenceed.bsky.social helping shape inclusive school practice
Internal alternative provision in mainstream schools risk serving as pupil 'holding pens' that unintentionally reinforce cycles of exclusion, an education charity has warned
schoolsweek.co.uk?p=231487
schoolsweek.co.uk?p=231487
June 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great to see another piece of ace research by @thedifferenceed.bsky.social helping shape inclusive school practice
Reposted by Ellie Harris
After good conversations with @eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social and @rlrossi64.bsky.social I now think the root EHCP problem is:
There are too many and lots shouldn't need them.
Some do need them and will drown if they are taken away.
We can't tell the difference between the two groups.
There are too many and lots shouldn't need them.
Some do need them and will drown if they are taken away.
We can't tell the difference between the two groups.
EHCPS, J S Mill and the Tryanny of the Majority.
ECHPs are terrible but getting rid of them is far too dangerous.
bennewmark.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/e...
ECHPs are terrible but getting rid of them is far too dangerous.
bennewmark.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/e...
EHCPs, J S Mill and the Tyranny of the Majority
A few years ago, in the Golden Era of Edu-Twitter, Berny Andrews and I suggested the Department of Education needed a team of philosophers. We were only half joking. Very often the success or failu…
bennewmark.wordpress.com
June 8, 2025 at 6:57 AM
After good conversations with @eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social and @rlrossi64.bsky.social I now think the root EHCP problem is:
There are too many and lots shouldn't need them.
Some do need them and will drown if they are taken away.
We can't tell the difference between the two groups.
There are too many and lots shouldn't need them.
Some do need them and will drown if they are taken away.
We can't tell the difference between the two groups.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
A Brief History of Young People Today Don't Want to Work
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May 27, 2025 at 10:01 PM
A Brief History of Young People Today Don't Want to Work
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🧵
Reposted by Ellie Harris
The unbelievable condescension we’re already seeing today towards working class people- suggesting they don’t travel to Europe or their kids might not want to go to university and study in Europe- is quite something to behold.
May 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The unbelievable condescension we’re already seeing today towards working class people- suggesting they don’t travel to Europe or their kids might not want to go to university and study in Europe- is quite something to behold.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
🚨 NEW POST 🚨
‘Learning Barriers, not labels’
“Would you teach differently if you were to learn about the designation of the special educational need?”
alexquigley.co.uk/learning-bar...
‘Learning Barriers, not labels’
“Would you teach differently if you were to learn about the designation of the special educational need?”
alexquigley.co.uk/learning-bar...
Learning barriers, not labels
Let me introduce you to James.
James finds it hard to articulate his thoughts due to limits to his vocabulary and a difficulty in understanding complex language in class. He can rely on simple words,...
alexquigley.co.uk
May 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
🚨 NEW POST 🚨
‘Learning Barriers, not labels’
“Would you teach differently if you were to learn about the designation of the special educational need?”
alexquigley.co.uk/learning-bar...
‘Learning Barriers, not labels’
“Would you teach differently if you were to learn about the designation of the special educational need?”
alexquigley.co.uk/learning-bar...
Reposted by Ellie Harris
We launched @inclusioninpractice.org.uk to understand more about the good work already taking place across the school system.
More on this from @andrewoneill.bsky.social here in @schoolsweek.bsky.social and how you can contribute before next week's deadline of May 1st.
More on this from @andrewoneill.bsky.social here in @schoolsweek.bsky.social and how you can contribute before next week's deadline of May 1st.
👂 'Our aim is to bring the sector's best work on inclusion to the fore and help make it common practice'
@andrewoneill.bsky.social
Here's how you can showcase yours 👇
@andrewoneill.bsky.social
Here's how you can showcase yours 👇
schoolsweek.co.uk
April 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM
We launched @inclusioninpractice.org.uk to understand more about the good work already taking place across the school system.
More on this from @andrewoneill.bsky.social here in @schoolsweek.bsky.social and how you can contribute before next week's deadline of May 1st.
More on this from @andrewoneill.bsky.social here in @schoolsweek.bsky.social and how you can contribute before next week's deadline of May 1st.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
‘What goes up, must come down: Promoting pupil independence through scaffolding’ - a @kirstinmul.bsky.social blog unpacking different practical
scaffolding approaches - visual, verbal and written:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/what-go...
scaffolding approaches - visual, verbal and written:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/what-go...
What goes up, must come down: Promoting pupil independence through…
Our new scaffolding framework
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk
April 26, 2025 at 7:50 AM
‘What goes up, must come down: Promoting pupil independence through scaffolding’ - a @kirstinmul.bsky.social blog unpacking different practical
scaffolding approaches - visual, verbal and written:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/what-go...
scaffolding approaches - visual, verbal and written:
educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/what-go...
A great read 👇
“But voters are not going to tell you how to govern the country. It is not their job. Relying on their opinions to try to deduce what to do leads not only to incoherence, but to a negative loop… if they just get their existing views fed back to them, there is nothing to learn from.”
“But voters are not going to tell you how to govern the country. It is not their job. Relying on their opinions to try to deduce what to do leads not only to incoherence, but to a negative loop… if they just get their existing views fed back to them, there is nothing to learn from.”
New post just out:
"The Rise of the Gurus"
Looking at how unelected advisers have ended up being so powerful in British politics.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The Rise of the Gurus"
Looking at how unelected advisers have ended up being so powerful in British politics.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The Rise of the Gurus
This piece originally appeared in last week’s Times Literary Supplement. I thought it would be of interest to subscribers and they have kindly agreed to let me reproduce it here. It’s a review of “Get...
open.substack.com
April 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM
A great read 👇
“But voters are not going to tell you how to govern the country. It is not their job. Relying on their opinions to try to deduce what to do leads not only to incoherence, but to a negative loop… if they just get their existing views fed back to them, there is nothing to learn from.”
“But voters are not going to tell you how to govern the country. It is not their job. Relying on their opinions to try to deduce what to do leads not only to incoherence, but to a negative loop… if they just get their existing views fed back to them, there is nothing to learn from.”
Reposted by Ellie Harris
Brutal and scary picture of how teenage girls are feeling
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/04/the-...
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/04/the-...
The rise of teenage girls feeling unsafe at school - FFT Education Datalab
We look at data from the TIMSS study that shows a sharp rise in the proportion of young people who don’t feel safe at school.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
April 7, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Brutal and scary picture of how teenage girls are feeling
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/04/the-...
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/04/the-...
This is an interesting idea. I was always shocked by how common poor performance was in the civil service and how making cuts often led to the best people - who could find other jobs - leaving, rather than getting rid of under performers.
My mildly contentious thoughts on compulsory redundancy
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/civi...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/civi...
Pat McFadden is right: the civil service needs to lose poor performers | Institute for Government
It is time to introduce regular civil service compulsory redundancy rounds.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
March 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
This is an interesting idea. I was always shocked by how common poor performance was in the civil service and how making cuts often led to the best people - who could find other jobs - leaving, rather than getting rid of under performers.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
What’s incredible is that men have hardly smashed this leadership thing for the last six years…
March 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
What’s incredible is that men have hardly smashed this leadership thing for the last six years…
“We are not naive to the fact that the jaw of the American President is made of glass & any perceived slight could shatter it into a thousand narcissistic shards.” Enjoying my @bylinetimes.bsky.social more than ever these days. @peterjukes.bsky.social
March 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
“We are not naive to the fact that the jaw of the American President is made of glass & any perceived slight could shatter it into a thousand narcissistic shards.” Enjoying my @bylinetimes.bsky.social more than ever these days. @peterjukes.bsky.social
Reposted by Ellie Harris
Absolutely brilliant to see the launch of this hugely important report from @thedifferenceed.bsky.social @ippr.bsky.social The report provides 10 recommendations to improve our school system for all. Informed by input from a Solutions Council, the recommendations are based on real expertise.
Who is losing learning? Finding solutions to the school engagement crisis | IPPR
A crisis of lost learning is sweeping across schools in England. Children cannot learn if they are not in school and not engaged. This means attainment can
www.ippr.org
March 18, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Absolutely brilliant to see the launch of this hugely important report from @thedifferenceed.bsky.social @ippr.bsky.social The report provides 10 recommendations to improve our school system for all. Informed by input from a Solutions Council, the recommendations are based on real expertise.
Reposted by Ellie Harris
🫥 'With the publication of our report today, we are calling for every school to have leaders with inclusion expertise'
@thedifferenceed.bsky.social CEO, Kiran Gill and @ippr.bsky.social research fellow, Efua Poku-Amanfo
schoolsweek.co.uk/tackling-inv...
@thedifferenceed.bsky.social CEO, Kiran Gill and @ippr.bsky.social research fellow, Efua Poku-Amanfo
schoolsweek.co.uk/tackling-inv...
We must have better oversight of 'managed' school moves
Our new report shows one in three children moved this way become altogether invisible to the system
schoolsweek.co.uk
March 18, 2025 at 12:53 PM
🫥 'With the publication of our report today, we are calling for every school to have leaders with inclusion expertise'
@thedifferenceed.bsky.social CEO, Kiran Gill and @ippr.bsky.social research fellow, Efua Poku-Amanfo
schoolsweek.co.uk/tackling-inv...
@thedifferenceed.bsky.social CEO, Kiran Gill and @ippr.bsky.social research fellow, Efua Poku-Amanfo
schoolsweek.co.uk/tackling-inv...