Services for children

SEN bulletin September 2025

    Message from Madhu

    Welcome back to a new school year! I hope you had a restful and happy summer break.

    I am looking forward to seeing you all at our SENDCo Network on 25 September, where we will be launching the long-awaited Ealing ordinarily available guidance document—a refreshed set of SEND expectations to support inclusive practice across our schools.

    This year, we will continue to build on the spirit of collaboration and reflection through our networks, seminars, and cluster meetings. These spaces remain vital for sharing best practice, tackling challenges together, and celebrating the progress we are making.

    As you know, our Local Authority SEND Area Inspection is currently underway. I am confident that inspectors will see the incredible work you do every day to support our children and young people. I am proud to celebrate your commitment to our children and young people and families, the improvements you have driven in inclusive practice in your individual schools, and the culture of openness and support we have fostered as a SENDCo community.

    Notification of Ofsted and CQC inspection of local area arrangements for SEND

    On Tuesday 8 September 2025, Ealing Council has received formal notification that Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will begin their inspection of local area arrangements for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

    Area SEND inspection for Ealing Local Area Partnership: practitioner views

    If you are a practitioner working with children or young people with SEND in education, health or care services, please take the practitioner survey. Please complete the survey by 9am on Tuesday 16 September 2025.

    If you work in two or more sectors, you can use the same link to complete a separate survey for each role.

    Area SEND inspection for Ealing Local Area Partnership: parent and carer views

    Please share this survey with parents and carers of children or young people between 0 to 25 years old with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).. Please ask them to complete the survey by 9am on Tuesday 16 September 2025.

    Teaching assistant apprenticeship – Cohort 3

    REad more at Apprenticeships: TA level 3 with a SEND focus. Opportunity to join the January Cohort. Contact Brian VanderWaal by email at BVanderWaal@ealing.gov.uk

    Teaching assistant training day

    A full-day CPD opportunity for teaching assistants, covering:

    • Therapeutic approaches to behaviour support
    • Understanding Autism
    • Supporting communication
    • Approaches to sensory differences

    Dates (repeat sessions):

    Developing specialist classes programme (primary)

    A 3-part programme for leaders of specialist classes (e.g. Wonder Room, SEND Hub). For SENDCos, HTs, DHTs, Inclusion Leads. Located at Gifford Primary School

    • 16 October 2025, 9:30am – 12midday
    • 29 January 2026, 9:30am – 12midday
    • 28 April 2026, 1:30 – 3:30pm

    Complete this 5-minute survey to help us understand your current or planned provision.

    Book via Ealing CPD Online:

    Staff INSETs – Free SEND CPD support

    Our Outreach providers can support your SEND CPD at no cost:

    EYFS specialist support

    Our EYFS Specialist Teachers offer bespoke support packages to develop whole class inclusive practice. Contact: eyfssen@ealing.gov.uk

    SEND and inclusion visits for 2025–26

    These visits are co-designed with school leaders and include a 1:1 session for your SENDCo. To book please email Madhu at bhachum@ealing.gov.uk

    SENDCo Network

    Thursday 25 September, 1 – 4pm at EEC

    Annual SENDCo Conference

    Wednesday 12 November 2025

    EYFS Practice Review (HTs & DHTs):

    Thursday 20 November, 1:30 – 3:30pm

    Preparing young people for employment using vocational profiling

    Join NDTi for a practical session exploring how vocational profiling can transform career planning from school (Key Stage 4) through to further education

    18 September 3-4pm Organised by NDTI (via Zoom). You will need an Education Training account to access the online session. Register here

    Speech and language therapy autumn training offer

    View training for autumn term

    Therapeutic Thinking network meeting

    18 September Online via Teams, 3.30-5.30pm

    SEND consultation line

    Available to all school staff for SEND queries and support.SENDline@ealing.gov.uk 07811 494323

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    Last updated: 09 Sep 2025