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Special Needs Jungle

@spcialndsjungle.bsky.social
4.7K followers 853 following 1.5K posts

#SaveOurChildrensRights Parent-led special educational needs and disability #SEND website. UK-based, strategic advocacy, resources, and information to help improve the lives of children & young people with disabilities and their families. Volunteers.

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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 26m
NHS risking ‘system failures’ as need for ADHD and autism care soars, inquiry finds. It says the NHS should combine mental health and neurodevelopmental services, moving to a “needs-led” system. Overdiagnosis was not found to be occurring at scale www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
NHS at risk of ‘system failures’ as demand for ADHD and autism care soars, inquiry finds
England-focused review led by Prof Peter Fonagy returns stark warning and calls for shift to ‘needs-led’ system
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 6h
NEW POST: As @theguardian.com prints our joint Save Our Children's Rights campaign's open letter, it's clear people with lived experience don't want to lose #SEND rights. Why won't the Government listen? www.specialneedsjungle.com/guardian-pri...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 20h
October is POTS Awareness month. Here's something we wrote earlier. Living with PoTS: Understanding Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome and how schools can help www.specialneedsjungle.com/living-pots-...
specialneedsjungle.com
Living with PoTS: Understanding Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome and how schools can help — Special Needs Jungle
We look at understanding Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome and how schools can help children with the condition
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Who knew? Think tank @instituteforgovernment.org.uk says Labour SEND proposals risk "unravelling" as parents rush to secure EHCPs before any changes. An IoG report says the plans may be too optimistic & too fast, risking basing plans on undeliverable assumptions www.theguardian.com/education/20...
theguardian.com
Labour Send changes at risk as parents rush to secure support, say experts
Overhaul of special education in England could unravel, thinktank finds, because of ‘use it before you lose it’ dynamic
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Only SIX days left. The petition to protect SEND legal rights is 2nd out of 2,210 government petitions. Please help to save disabled children’s rights in England by signing and sharing. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
“SEND reform: A chance to rethink inclusion in schools” These are still just PROPOSALS—and proposals may change after a consultation response is finally published. But schools and LAs are acting like they’re it’s already in place. This is entirely wrong. www.headteacher-update.com/content/best...
headteacher-update.com
SEND reform: A chance to rethink inclusion in schools
Why SEND reform is a school improvement opportunity focused on belonging, participation, inclusion and thriving.
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
On SNJ Today: A new discussion paper is asking for feedback on ideas for helping education, health and social care staff see that understanding a diagnosis is not always the same as an individual's needs: www.specialneedsjungle.com/pathways-dia...
signs saying diagnosis and support both pointing at a graphic of a person
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Children with SEND ‘vulnerable to exploitation’, Police and Crime Commissioners warn - careappointments.com/care-news/en...
careappointments.com
Send children ‘vulnerable to exploitation’, Police and Crime Commissioners warn
Nine Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) have warned the Prime Minister that children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) could be vulnerable to exploitation and criminality if they...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
The petition to protect the legal rights of children with special educational needs is over 113,000. There’s just one week until it closes. Will you help by signing and sharing? Children can sign too. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Mums battle for SEND school places “they don't answer your phone calls anymore, they don't answer your emails anymore". This is far from unusual and always unacceptable. Council behaviour is the SEND reform that’s actually needed. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Martlesham and Felixstowe mums both battle for SEND school places
Roxanne says finding the right school for her son, Franklin, who is autistic, feels "never ending".
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Just ONE WEEK to go until the petition to protect SEND legal rights closes. If you care about disabled children’s rights please sign and share. Let’s get as many signatures as we possibly can. Children can sign too. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Protect legal right to support for children with SEND
A petition created by a British citizen or UK resident. You can share this petition if you agree with its message.
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
NEW POST: How do you ensure pathways to education, health, and social care support, meet both diagnosis and needs? An invitation to offer views on a new discussion paper www.specialneedsjungle.com/pathways-dia...
signs saying diagnosis and support both pointing at a graphic of a person
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
SEND funding plan risks ‘penalising’ inclusive schools “Raising the threshold without providing genuinely additional & clearly identifiable funding risks increasing schools’ responsibilities without… the capacity or resources to meet them” 🤔🫣 www.tes.com/magazine/new...
tes.com
SEND funding plan risks ‘penalising’ inclusive schools
Headteachers and local council leaders raise concerns about plans for a major shake-up of how schools are funded for pupils with SEND
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The petition to save SEND legal rights is 3rd out of 2,192 parliamentary petitions, with over 112,000 signatures. There are just 8 days to go. Will you help save disabled children’s rights by signing and sharing. Children can sign too. #SEND #Disability petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
“More than 9 in 10 local SEND reform plans approved by DfE” —or in other words, ‘Tell us what we want to hear and we’ll give you lots of money’ They’ve learned nothing from the 2014 reform’s failed implementation. Nothing. schoolsweek.co.uk/government-a...
schoolsweek.co.uk
More than 9 in 10 local SEND reform plans approved by DfE
More than 9 in 10 plans outlining how local areas will implement SEND reforms in return for a near-complete write off of deficits have been approved
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
On SNJ Today: We've heard a lot recently about Education Otherwise Than At school, or EOTAS (or EOTIS). But what about flexi-schooling? How beneficial is it for children with SEND? We hear from an expert who's conducted multiple studies: www.specialneedsjungle.com/researching-...
A young girl with her curly hair in a pony tail sitting looking at an ipad
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
DEVON parents, SEND practitioners and young people. It's your area's Ofsted/CQC Area SEND inspection 19-23 October. Give your views on provision from NOW-9am 13 Oct here: ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/p/AreaSend/1...
ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk
Area SEND inspection for Devon Local Area Partnership
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
NEW POST: Researching flexi-schooling: How beneficial is it for children with SEND? We hear from an expert who's conducted multiple studies: www.specialneedsjungle.com/researching-...
A young girl with her curly hair in a pony tail sitting looking at an ipad
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The petition to protect SEND legal rights is at number 3 out of over 2000 government petitions. Will you help to save disabled children’s rights in England by signing and sharing? Children can sign too. petition.parliament.uk/petitions?st...
petition.parliament.uk
View all petitions - Petitions
Search results for open petitions. You can sign and share petitions.
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Could you do the same as parents in Central Beds who highlighted the lie of their LA’s SEND "improvement journey" by cataloguing the trail of its unlawful behaviour www.specialneedsjungle.com/central-bedf...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Do you agree that the DfE must give its #SENDreform Child Rights Impact Assessment an independent do-over—because the full proposals were not included www.specialneedsjungle.com/dfe-must-rep...
specialneedsjungle.com
DfE must give its SEND reform Child Rights Impact Assessment a do-over; this time, without marking its own homework — Special Needs Jungle
Special Needs Jungle provides parent-centred information, news, special needs resources and informed opinion about SEND - Special educational needs and disability, Education, Health and Care Plans, EHCPs, EOTAS, SEND Tribunal, children's mental health, rare disease, SEND politics
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Just 10 days to go until the petition closes. Will you help to the rights of disabled children in England by signing and sharing. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
After our article from Measure What Matters they’ve smashed their initial CrowdJustice target but still need your help to pursue SEND accountability: When the law says “must”, local authorities cannot treat it as “maybe” www.specialneedsjungle.com/crowdjustice...
specialneedsjungle.com
CrowdJustice SEND accountability: When the law says “must”, local authorities cannot treat it as “maybe” — Special Needs Jungle
Can you help Accountability group Measure What Matters seek legal justice for families whose children have been denied their EHCP provision?
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
This week on SNJ, a mum with ADHD shared worries that the Government’s use of AI to filter consultation responses could lead to “algorithmic silencing” of neurodivergent voices. Do you agree? www.specialneedsjungle.com/using-ai-fil...
specialneedsjungle.com
Could using AI to filter Government consultation responses lead to “algorithmic silencing” of neurodivergent voices? — Special Needs Jungle
An ADHD mum asks if AI analysis of SEND consultations could lead to an “algorithmic silencing” of neurodivergent voices?
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Without Words: The first post from SNJ's brilliant columnist, @catrionamoore.bsky.social on her own new Substack, following the unimaginable loss of her beautiful daughter Amy, who had Rett syndrome: What is the word for someone who has lost a child?" withoutwordsjournal.substack.com/p/there-isnt...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
On SNJ this week we heard from a specialist occupational therapist about concerns over who will be considered as a SEND Expert at Hand: www.specialneedsjungle.com/experts-at-h...
specialneedsjungle.com
Experts at Hand: When is an occupational therapist also a SEND expert? — Special Needs Jungle
When is an occupational therapist also a SEND expert? An occupational therapist explains her optimism & concerns over Experts at Hand
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“Key disability benefit for young people may be axed under major welfare changes.” 1. PIP is unrelated to work & helps many stay working. 2. If they want more disabled people in work, why are they cutting Access To Work? 3. Where are the suitable jobs? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Key disability benefit for young people may be axed under major welfare changes
Exclusive: Plan under discussion involves intensive support to help young people into employment
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
ADHD UK has threatened legal action against an NHS organisation over its decision to impose a minimum two-year wait for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism assessments. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Charity threatens legal action over two-year NHS wait for ADHD and autism assessments
Exclusive: ADHD UK may seek judicial review of West Yorkshire NHS integrated care board’s ‘unlawful’ policy
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
On SNJ Today: @tanialt.bsky.social writes about what we need you to do next and asks, if 100,000 people agree with young campaigner, Tee-Jay, that SEND rights must be retained, why is the Government persisting with its unwelcome plans? www.specialneedsjungle.com/government-m...
stars on a red background with a pic of Tee-Jay and his mum in a star frame
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Essex LA is to overhaul SEND transport safeguarding and inclusion practices after repeated complaints to the LGSCO by families. In one case a child went missing for 30 minutes, while others complained of late or missed pick-ups and inconsistent drivers www.lgo.org.uk/information-...
lgo.org.uk
https://www.lgo.org.uk/
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
NEW POST: Oops, we did it again...@tanialt.bsky.social writes about the amazing feat you helped young campaigner, Tee-Jay achieve that says the Government MUST listen to more than 100,000 people who don't want to lose SEND rights www.specialneedsjungle.com/government-m...
stars on a red background with a pic of Tee-Jay and his mum in a star frame
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
On SNJ Today: Are neurodivergent people put at a disadvantage, when Government uses AI to analyse official consultations? One ADHD mum believes communication styles of parents like her may see their responses, filtered leading to “algorithmic silencing” www.specialneedsjungle.com/using-ai-fil...
image shows a robot reading a screen and a woman looking at a computer with a techno colourful background
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
WE DID IT! Watch the moment the numbers pass 100k... THANK YOU to everyone who signed— keep going! Keep signing! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
SO CLOSE! WE CAN DO IT! If you haven't signed, now's your chance to get it past 100k Petition: Protect legal right to support for children with SEND petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
NEW POST: When is an occupational therapist also a SEND expert? Occupational therapy specialist, Jacqui Brett, explains both her optimism and concerns over the new Experts at Hand programme: www.specialneedsjungle.com/experts-at-h...
Image is a therapist and child working, colourised in orange
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
NEW POST: Like many this year, a mum with ADHD did her best to respond to Government SEND consultations. But she asks, given AI is being used in the analysis, could filtering responses lead to an “algorithmic silencing” of neurodivergent voices? www.specialneedsjungle.com/using-ai-fil...
image shows a robot reading a screen and a woman looking at a computer with a techno colourful background
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Less than 10,000 signatures to go!!! www.facebook.com/share/p/1DMN...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
On SNJ Today: How a SEND parent group’s tenacious campaigners catalogued the trail of unlawful behaviour by their council, while it trumpeted about its "improvement journey"?  www.specialneedsjungle.com/central-bedf...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Wow! In the last hour over 900 people have signed the petition to protect the legal rights of disabled children and young people. We have just two weeks to get it over 100,000. Will you help? petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
There are just 15 days left until Tee-Jay’s petition to protect SEND legal rights closes on 14th October. We need to get 16,000 more signatures. Will you help us get there? petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Protect legal right to support for children with SEND
A petition created by a British citizen or UK resident. You can share this petition if you agree with its message.
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
NEW POST: A council's "improvement journey"? How determined SEND parents catalogued the trail of their LA’s unlawful behaviour www.specialneedsjungle.com/central-bedf...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
On SNJ Today: Education researchers at the University of Oxford have shown that children in special schools have thriving social networks and friendships—the opposite of how their experiences are characterised by politicians: www.specialneedsjungle.com/research-soc...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Families and SEND practitioners in LAMBETH and in CROYDEN: It's your areas' Ofsted/CQC SEND inspections 12-16 October. You can find the feedback surveys for each area at this link (scroll right down) They are open NOW-9am on 6 October 2026: www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Area SEND inspections: information about ongoing inspections
Guides for parents, carers, children and young people about inspections of local services for children and young people with SEND.
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“DfE plans £2.3m on council SEND consultants” The SEND gravy train of “advisers” from poor LAs advising other poor LAs, has long been something we’ve highlighted. With the “reforms” the train is reaching top speed: schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-plans-2-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
DfE plans £2.3m on council SEND consultants
Ministers are planning to spend more than £2 million on SEND consultants to advise councils on system reform this year, Schools Week can reveal
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEW POST: Contrary to political narratives, new research finds social networks and friendships in special schools thrive just as much as in mainstream. The research authors explain more on SNJ: www.specialneedsjungle.com/research-soc...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Just £1.5k short of the CrowdJustice target for Measure What Matters to pursue SEND accountability: When the law says “must”, local authorities cannot treat it as “maybe” Can you pitch in? www.specialneedsjungle.com/crowdjustice...
specialneedsjungle.com
CrowdJustice SEND accountability: When the law says “must”, local authorities cannot treat it as “maybe” — Special Needs Jungle
Can you help Accountability group Measure What Matters seek legal justice for families whose children have been denied their EHCP provision?
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Absolutely smashing it. Next target 85,000. www.facebook.com/share/1C1Liq...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Amazing work everyone. Tee-Jay’s petition to protect SEND legal rights has made it to 80,000. We have until 14th October to get to 100,000. Together we can do this! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
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Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
On SNJ Today: They're closing on their target already, so can you help accountability group Measure What Matters seek legal justice for Surrey families whose children have been denied their EHCP provision? Find out more: www.specialneedsjungle.com/crowdjustice...
image of the crowdjustice banner plus a pink fist holding the scales of justice over a graphic of a council building
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