by Zoe Armstrong | Feb 19, 2026 | Education and inclusion
Last week’s announcement of the new High Needs Stability grant will bring a sense of relief to many local authorities (LAs). For those who have Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits linked to high needs, this funding represents a long-awaited boost. Under this new...
by Cara Corbett | Dec 5, 2025 | Education and inclusion
At Mountjoy Special School in Dorset, inclusion isn’t just an aspiration, it’s something lived and breathed every day. For two pupils, Timothy and Ivan, that commitment has meant moving from a specialist setting into mainstream schools with confidence, clarity and the...
by Cara Corbett | Dec 2, 2025 | Being IMPOWER, Children's social care, Education and inclusion
We are proud to nominate Lesley Mellor for IMPOWER’s Heroes of 2025 Awards. Lesley is the Lead for the Dorset Parent Carer Council, and she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, empathy, and commitment to improving the experiences and outcomes of children and...
by Zoe Armstrong | Oct 31, 2025 | Education and inclusion, Local government transformation
We’ve been anticipating the release of the Schools White Paper, which promised to set out the next steps in the government’s vision for education. While publication has now been delayed to the New Year to ensure the paper fully reflects the sector’s needs, one thing...
by Jacqui Dundas | Jul 2, 2025 | Education and inclusion
Guest blogpost written by Jacqui Dundas, Head of Service for Education and Inclusion at Wakefield Council. Foreword from Sean Hanson I’m delighted to confirm that IMPOWER will be continuing as part of the REACh consortium delivering the next phase of the DfE SEND AP...
by Cara Corbett | Jun 10, 2025 | Education and inclusion
Introduction IMPOWER’s Inclusion Network provides us with a regular opportunity to engage with head teachers across the country. In our most recent meeting, we heard from two headteachers in Hartlepool who shared how their schools are supporting children with Special...
