02/10/24A special needs school in Maidstone has opened a café in a train carriage to offer on-the-job training.

A special needs school in Maidstone has opened a café in a train carriage to offer on-the-job training.

30/09/24Teaching assistant recruitment a struggle for 3 in 4 heads

Three in four headteachers are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, with most secondary and special school leaders anticipating needing more to cope with rising SEND demand. A government-commissioned report also found low pay was a “key reason why some TAs considered leaving the role”, and that a lack of opportunities for progression is a bugbear for around half of them.

27/09/24Maths classes of 60 pupils amid teacher shortage

A school has increased the size of some of its maths classes to 60 pupils due to a "national shortage of specialist teachers".

25/09/24Families 'will have to go elsewhere' if hubs close

A community in Kent is fighting to save a children's centre which is at risk of being closed due to a funding cut. Millmead Children’s Centre, on Dane Valley Road, Margate, is one of two centres facing closure due to cost savings by Kent County Council (KCC). An eight-week public consultation on the future of the hubs closed on Sunday. Jan Collins, who chairs the Millmead Family Hub, said it would be disastrous for the local area if the centre does not have its grant: “There are families under the responsibility of our safeguarding and child protection role, that will have to go elsewhere."

24/09/24Private school VAT hike 'unfair' for SEND pupils

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) might lose their extra support at private schools once a 20% VAT is introduced.