The Island Project

28/08/2026

Back to school can be a big transition for autistic children.

We asked parents to share their top tips for helping their children feel comfortable, prepared and supported. Swipe through for some of their suggestions!

21/08/2026

Proposed SEND reforms would remove the right to appeal decisions about education otherwise than in school (EOTIS).

For some children, their needs cannot be met in a school setting. Many are living with severe anxiety, complex mental health needs or significant sensory differences.

What does this mean?

✔️ Today, families can appeal to the SEND Tribunal if they believe their child requires an EOTIS package.

❌ Under the proposals, the Tribunal would no longer have the authority to make that decision. Instead, it could only ask the local authority to reconsider which commissioning placement is named in an Education, Health and Care plan.

That means families could lose access to an independent decision-maker when they need one most.

Every child and young person with SEND needs to retain their legally enforceable rights, not rely on discretion and aspiration.

Read more: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/news/ipsea-manifesto-for-send-reform

Help to protect SEND legal rights ⬇️

🔷 Write to your MP: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/write-to-your-mp-protect-the-legal-rights-of-children-and-young-people-with-send

🔶 Sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764268

21/08/2026

Proposed SEND reforms would remove the SEND Tribunal's power to order educational settings in Section I of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

What does this mean?

✔️ Today, families can appeal to the SEND Tribunal if they disagree with the setting named in Section I of an EHC plan.

❌ Under the proposals, the Tribunal would no longer have the authority to order a placement in Section I. Instead, it could only ask the local authority to reconsider the placement decision.

That means families could lose access to an independent decision-maker when they need one most.

Every child and young person with SEND needs to retain their legally enforceable rights, not rely on discretion and aspiration.

Read more: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/news/ipsea-manifesto-for-send-reform

How you can help ⬇️

🔷 Write to your MP: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/write-to-your-mp-protect-the-legal-rights-of-children-and-young-people-with-send

🔶 Sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764268

17/08/2026

The Government has published its proposals to reform the SEND system. We have strongly argued that any reform must not reduce vital existing legal entitlements and safeguards for children and young people with SEND.

Over the coming week, IPSEA will be explaining what the proposed SEND reforms could mean for children and young people with SEND, and why their legal rights matter.

Remember that you can also help to protect SEND legal rights ⬇️

🔷 Write to your MP and ask them to stand up for SEND legal rights using our template letter: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/write-to-your-mp-protect-the-legal-rights-of-children-and-young-people-with-send

🔶 Sign the petition, ‘Protect legal right to support for children with SEND’ and help show decision-makers that families and supporters want legal safeguards protected: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764268

Every signature and every message helps to show that children and young people with SEND deserve a system which retains existing legal rights and strengthens independent accountability and access to justice.

IPSEA is calling on ministers to commit to four key principles. Read more: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/news/ipsea-manifesto-for-send-reform

16/08/2026

Upcoming SEND law training for parents and carers📣

Join us for one of our virtual training sessions this September. Delivered by a member of our legal team, our training is designed to help families of children and young people with SEND secure the education their child is entitled to by law.

Book your place today: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Events/Category/upcoming-training-events-for-parents-and-carers

16/08/2026

15/08/2026

15/08/2026

𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧: 𝗔 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗘.

𝖠𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗇𝖼𝗒 𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗍 𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝖺𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗌𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖴𝖪, 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗁 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗉𝗎𝗍 𝗏𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗆𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖽𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝖺𝖻𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗍 𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗄 𝗂𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝖺 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗌𝖺𝖿𝖾𝗍𝗒.

𝖠 𝗅𝗈𝗎𝖽 𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗇𝖼𝗒 𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖻𝗎𝗌𝖾𝗋.

𝖶𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇'𝗌 𝖠𝗂𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗀𝗎𝗂𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗐𝗂𝗍𝖼𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗌 𝗈𝖿𝖿:

womensaid.org.uk/uk-emergency-alerts/

𝖯𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌. 𝖤𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝖿 𝗂𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝖺𝖿𝖿𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗅𝗒, 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗂𝗍.

12/08/2026

❓ Got questions about the SEND system?

Join our Talking SENse! Take the Hot Seat online session and hear directly from SEND experts. This is your opportunity to ask questions, gain practical advice and better understand how the SEND system works.

📅 Thursday 10th September
🕕 6:00pm – 7:30pm
💻 Online

Book your place today: https://tinyurl.com/mv76zyhw

Please share with any parents or carers who may find this session helpful. 💜