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Following a recent announcement in the Assembly, Education Minister for Northern Ireland, Paul Givan has today published the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Reform Agenda and five-year Delivery Plan.

Following the close of nominations on 12th December 2024, we received two eligible nominations were received for the post of Newly-Qualified Member on the AEP National Executive Committee.

The UK parliament's Public Accounts Committee has today released its report ‘Support for children and young people with special educational needs’ highlighting significant challenges in the current SEND system, describing it as at ‘crisis point’, and provided key recommendations for improvement.

Following the resignation of Cath Lowther as the General Secretary of the Association with effect from 31 December 2024, in accordance with the AEP’s Constitution, nominations are now invited from members for election to the post of General Secretary of the Association, to serve for a term of four years from the date of election to the post.

Cath Lowther has stepped down as General Secretary of the AEP and is returning to direct practice as an Educational Psychologist.

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.