Feature Articles

The number of children and young people with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) is rising, and schools face significant challenges in funding the staff and resources to offer them optimal support. In some cases, this leaves pupils unable to attend their designated schools while they await more specialised placements, of which there is a shortage. Teacher and writer Kate Goulson takes a closer look at this persistently challenging issue.

What are the risks to schools and early years providers during the winter months and what do they have to do to ensure that everybody stays safe?

As we approach the end of the year, many employers will be looking back at the successes in the business over the last 12 months, and thinking of ways they can celebrate this with their employees. Traditionally, a Christmas party has been a focal point of this, generally involving a late night, alcohol and frivolity. But are such events truly inclusive? In this article, Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, looks at work-related social events and presents our top tips for ensuring they are inclusive to all.

After a long wait, the Government has finally released its responses to consultations on reforms to retained EU laws and the calculation of annual leave entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers. In particular, it has announced plans to reverse the effects of the Harpur Trust v Brazel decision, which is sure to come as a relief to many employers. In this feature, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, Stacie Cheadle, looks at the government announcement and what it means for employers.

Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign, is an initiative of the charity Break. This year it runs from 19 to 25 November and has the theme “Let’s talk about speed”.

A trauma-informed practice (TIP) understands the pervasive nature of trauma in students and through considered strategies, promotes healing and recovery. It also lowers the risk of re-traumatisation. Since covid-19, trauma-informed schools are becoming more commonplace as education strives to better support the mental health of students.

Recent disclosures and allegations of historical sexual abuse have led to calls for changes in the law regarding the age of sexual consent and restrictions on older adults having sexual relationships with those under the age of 18. This is due to the potential imbalance of power between participants, where the young person may be more vulnerable to coercion or control, especially where the adult is in a position of power, such as a celebrity or teacher.

Conflicting beliefs at work is, for the most part, inevitable at some stage. When a group are brought together connected only by their employer, it is likely they are going to have different religious, ethical, moral or political beliefs. It is therefore imperative that employers manage any issues that arise as a result of conflicting beliefs, before they escalate and cause problems within the workforce, with customers or suppliers.

The number of pupils requiring SEND support continues to increase year on year. Government figures for English schools show an increase of 5% from 2022 to 2023. More than 1.5 million pupils now have been identified as having special educational needs, and this figure represents an increase of 87,000 from 2022, both for pupils with an educational health care plan (EHC plan) and the number of pupils requiring SEN support.

There are 33 million women in the UK, and at some stage and in some way, they will experience the menopause or symptoms connected with it. But if that isn’t enough, the impact of the menopause is not a “women’s issue” only. It affects anyone, one way or another, who has any interactions with women or people assigned female at birth. These interactions can be at home, at work, out in the community or even in the gym. It’s important therefore that we all get comfortable with this topic and become familiar with what it is and what it means.