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We welcome the Scottish Government’s Third Progress Report on the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Action Plan published yesterday – but warns much more work is needed to support children and young people. The report’s focus on inclusion, equity, and ongoing improvement is a positive step towards a more accessible and supportive education system for children and young people with additional support needs across Scotland.

The Chancellor’s budget statement included an extra £1billion for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Whilst this is welcome news, we await further details on where the additional funding will be directed. The current SEND system is failing children and young people. As educational psychologists, the growing demands of our profession’s statutory EHCP responsibilities mean that we are unable to provide early intervention support. This early intervention and support is crucial to ensuring the best outcomes for children. Urgent action is required to target investment in our profession and ensure children and young people have access to the support they need, when they need it.

England’s special educational needs (SEN) system is not delivering better outcomes for children and young people; is financially unsustainable and in urgent need of reform, according to a new National Audit Office report, Support for children and young people with special educational needs. The AEP submitted evidence to the National Audit Office inquiry in July and we are pleased with many of the recommendations outlined.

With effect from October 2024, the AEP is in dispute with The States of Jersey. This unfortunate situation has arisen due to the failure of the employer to deal appropriately with matters raised by Educational Psychologists in the course of their work.

Today, the AEP endorse an open letter to Secretary of State, Bridget Phillipson, drafted by a grass roots movement of educational psychologists, and other leading SEND groups, has been published. In it, the issues facing education and the ways in which the new government can work towards a solution are outlined. 

The HCPC's revised standards of conduct, performance and ethics and guidance came into effect on 1 September 2024.

Following the close of nominations for two ‘Ordinary Members’ of the Editorial Board, we are pleased to announce the election of existing board members, Will Shield and Lata Ramoutar. Their new term will commence on the 1st August 2024 for a term of 3 years.