This week I report on a recent report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on SEND and a free governors Governors for Schools webinar in October on Whole school wellbeing and the strategic role of governors.

Calls for reform to the SEND system
A recent report from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on SEND describes an “adversarial, fragmented and under-resourced” system, despite increased funding over the years. Local authorities are reported to be struggling with rising demands and workforce shortages, while families navigate unclear responsibilities.

These concerns are echoed in the Education Select Committee’s latest inquiry, which reported the impacts on pupil wellbeing and attainment. In 2023/24, only 30.8% of pupils with SEND achieved expected standards in GCSE English and maths – a stark contrast with 72.3% of their peers.

Both reports call for greater collaboration between education, health and social care services as a way to increase parental trust and confidence in the system. The Government has announced upcoming reform to the SEND system, expected to be set out in the Autumn white paper.

Free Governors for Schools governance webinar Whole school wellbeing on Thursday 9 October 2025 from 8-9am
Governors for Schools are holding a Whole school wellbeing and the strategic role of governors webinar with Andy Mellor, former Headteacher and National Wellbeing Director for the Schools Advisory Service on 9 October. Andy will share insights on how you can help create and embed a meaningful culture of wellbeing that helps everyone in your school to thrive.

It will feature the usual Q&A section and a copy of the slides and a recording of the webinar will be shared with delegates via email after the session. You can use this link to register for the session via the Governors for Schools website.