Latest News for Parents & Carers

The government has quietly signed a contract targeting 20% cuts to the number of new education plans for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) to bring down costs, the Observer can reveal.

An autistic man will receive £20,000 compensation after a “discriminatory” refusal to make the reasonable adjustments he requested for a job interview with the government agency responsible for NHS digital technology. Chris Tyerman applied in August 2021 for posts in cyber security with NHS Digital but after being shortlisted for the job was told that some of the adjustments he needed to be made ahead of an interview were not possible.

The government released a consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment, which it had previously announced it would scrap. Listen on BBC Sounds to Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey unravel what it could mean for you with James Taylor, executive director of strategy at the charity Scope.

Concern is growing over provision for children with special educational needs after new figures revealed that a record number of complaints have been upheld by England’s local government ombudsman this year. Analysis of the decisions showed that some children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) had been without a school placement for more than a year.

Otto Baxter’s gruesome Victorian romp, complete with sweary musical numbers, is loosely based on his life. It’s a unique, monster-filled scare-fest, with its own incredibly moving documentary. Baxter has made one of the most unusual horror films you’re likely to see. The Puppet Asylum is a 30-minute short inspired by Jack the Ripper, A Nightmare on Elm Street and, crucially, his own experience of living with Down syndrome.