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Reposted by Simon Knight

sp1ngirl.bsky.social @sp1ngirl.bsky.social · 13h

Complex issue, have mixed views:
- Diagnosis is a place to start looking for individual needs: it can't tell you what they are.
- Problems like stereotyping are rife where knowledge/experience is poor.
- But diagnosis is useful: without it needs not acknowledged. Helps people understand themselves.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 15h

“This is not an argument against people having needs; it’s an argument against the idea that the categories we use will help us to understand what those needs are.”

www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

www.tes.com

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 16h

the expertise of the sector when drafting guidance. Despite having requested it. In so much education policy the focus is on Mainstream & then the Specialist sector is a post-hoc consideration. Normally it is irritating, but during Covid it put our sector & those who work in it at material risk. 2/2

Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 16h

I’d be fascinated in your view on why Special schools were badly let down by Government decisions, from the announcement that every child with an EHCP would be entitled to face to face education, i.e. all of our pupils, despite staff being told to isolate, to the failure of Government to act on 1/2

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 1d

A fair few I suspect. Ledley King (Power Stadium), Dean Ashton (Gate) Spring to mind, along with Jimmy Anfield :)

Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 2d

Fingers very crossed that there is nothing Endgame about this visit and that you are all good soon. Take care.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 3d

Me too!

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Reposted by Simon Knight

DamsonEd @damsoned.bsky.social · 7d

I know how hard it was for all. The Government showed a breathtaking level of incompetence and lack of insight into the sector and how it actually functions.

For many of us, there will be life long lasting effects.

And after spending a year in the care of the NHS - I know it is the same.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 7d

we’re badly let down during that period, and not because Government didn’t know what the implications for us were, but because they chose not to act. The decisions we were forced to make and the conversations we were forced to have as a result, have left a lasting impression. 2/2

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 7d

I still remember the intake of breath caused by Gavin Williamson’s announcement that everyone with an EHCP would be entitled to face to face education, and the realisation that it would be impossible to deliver under the wider guidance because of staff being directed to shield. Special schools 1/2

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 8d

It’s bonkers, and even when you get it on prescription it comes in a monthly block allocation from the pharmacy rather than weekly allocation via the supermarket. Wales have got a much better solution.

www.gov.wales/wales-rolls-...

Wales rolls out subsidy card for gluten-free food | GOV.WALES

A new pre-paid card will be rolled out across Wales to give people who receive gluten-free food on prescription greater choice and freedom.

www.gov.wales

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Reposted by Simon Knight

Jonny H @poppop.studio · 10d

There's also this
www.parentfriendlyschools.org/p/framework

Parent-Friendly Schools

Powering parent participation at UK schools to raise attendance, attainment and wellbeing for children by bringing schools and homes closer together.

www.parentfriendlyschools.org

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 10d

If you don’t have one already you will need to create an account, buy it is free.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 10d

This might be a helpful resource to share, with the intention schools can answer the questions and share the leaflet with families.

asset.nasen.org.uk/a_guide_to_m...

asset.nasen.org.uk

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Reposted by Simon Knight

ianVisits @ianvisits.co.uk · 12d

In memoriam...

59 1.6K 5.5K

Reposted by Simon Knight

National Association of Special Schools (NASS) @nasschools.bsky.social · 13d

“There remains a crucial role for special schools in supporting children with the most complex needs.”
– Claire Burton (DfE) opens #NASSConf2025, highlighting the vital place of specialist provision in a more inclusive system #SpecialEducation #Inclusion #Collaboration

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Reposted by Simon Knight

National Association of Special Schools (NASS) @nasschools.bsky.social · 13d

“Special schools are more than policy and regulation — they’re about Purpose, People & Passion.”
– Claire Dorer OBE, #NASSConf2025
Focus on the human, embrace collaboration, and reduce division. #SEND #SpecialEducation #Inclusion

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 13d

Agree or disagree, it's always nice when Roy pops up with his thoughts on an educational topic. Few people have caused me to think harder about education than Roy Blatchford, and this piece in @tesmagazine.bsky.social certainly helps stimulate debate.
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

7 bold SEND reform ideas the system needs

Fairer funding, more local provision and no spending on for-profit independent schools - these are some of the ways the SEND support system can be improved, says Roy Blatchford

www.tes.com

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Reposted by Simon Knight

Jim Lauder @mrjlauder.bsky.social · 14d

Yes, although in the longer term better relationships will decrease workload, I would hope, as attendance and behaviour improves.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 14d

And working out how to achieve that without massively increasing workload is complicated.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 14d

Yes. One of the greatest shifts we experienced as parents was moving from the relational experience of primary, to a highly transactional experience in secondary. COVID probably didn’t help, but despite being highly engaged in our children’s education we don’t have a relationship with their school.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 15d

This is a really important piece from @escservices.bsky.social

schoolsweek.co.uk/labours-send...

Labour’s SEND reforms must re-balance education and health

Misuse of the SEN and SEND terms started with 2014 reforms and have since skewed the landscape

schoolsweek.co.uk

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Reposted by Simon Knight

Chris Chivers @chrischivers.bsky.social · 18d

There are multiple dynamics at play in any classroom, not least the "director" of learning; the teacher's career experience will determine the direction, speed, quality assurance (assessment) and subsequent decisions. In house mentoring, supporting assessment reflection is key in early career.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 18d

The relationship feels quite consumerist at the moment and what we need is a more consistently intellectual relationship with the evidence bases we use, we build and we critique. This is particularly important in supporting children who find learning harder.

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Simon Knight @simonknight100.bsky.social · 18d

These are the sorts of things I mean when I say I’m worried about OfSTED making comments about schools relying‘explicitly on the best available evidence”, when we often have to build the evidence ourselves. What we do need is a better way of validating and sharing the evidence we create.

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