Your Voice Matters: Shaping Education for ALL Children – Respond to the Curriculum & Assessment Review
The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) is calling on all parents and families of disabled children and those with special educational needs to take a vital step in shaping the future of education.
Together, let’s create an education system that celebrates the strengths and potential of EVERY child!
The government is currently conducting a Curriculum and Assessment Review, and this is our chance to ensure a system that truly caters to the diverse needs of all learners, including our amazing children.
Why is this important?
The current curriculum and assessment system can often disadvantage children with SEND. It might not be fully accessible to them, reflect their needs and interests, or properly recognise their progress and achievements. This review presents a golden opportunity to advocate for a more inclusive and effective approach to education. Below we set out what we want to happen, but government needs to hear directly from parents of children with SEND, and from children and young people themselves – about the difference a reformed curriculum and assessment system could make to their learning; their experience of school; and their lives.
What are the DCP’s key asks?
- A Broad and Balanced Curriculum: All children deserve a curriculum that ignites their curiosity and engages their interests. This means ensuring accessible and differentiated materials that cater to individual needs.
- Assessment that Recognises Progress: We need assessments that go beyond a standardised “age related expectation” approach, and recognise and celebrate the unique progress of each child. Progress isn’t always linear, and assessments should reflect this by focusing on individual goals and achievements.
- Resourced Schools and Specialist Support: Curriculum and assessment can’t exist in a vacuum. Schools need adequate resources and access to specialist support to ensure all children have the tools and guidance they need to thrive.
We also want to see a curriculum that will increase understanding of disability and promote an inclusive society.
How can you be involved?
The government’s review team is actively seeking feedback from parents and families like yours! You can make a real difference by contributing your experiences and concerns through the official “Call for Evidence” here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/curriculum-and-assessment-team/curriculum-and-assessment-review-call-for-evidence/
The call for evidence is long and detailed, but you do not need to respond to all of the questions – answer as few or as many as you feel are relevant.
Here are some specific questions from the review that you might want to focus on
- Section 3: Social justice and inclusion
-
- 13. In the current curriculum, assessment system and qualification pathways are there any barriers to improving attainment, progress, access or participation which may disproportionately impact pupils based on other characteristics (e.g. disability, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or belief etc.)
-
- 14. In the current curriculum, assessment system and qualification pathways, are there any barriers in continuing to improve attainment, progress, access or participation for learners with SEND?
-
- 15. In the current curriculum, assessment system and qualification pathways, are there any enablers that support attainment, progress, access or participation for the groups listed above?
- Section 7: Assessment and accountability
-
- 38. What can we do to ensure the assessment system at key stages 1 and 2 works well for all learners, including learners in need of additional support in their education (for example SEND, disadvantage, EAL)?
-
- 45. How well does the current accountability system support and recognise progress for all pupils and learners? What works well and what could be improved?
-
- 46. Should there be any changes to the current accountability system in order to better support progress and incentivise inclusion for young people with SEND and/or from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds? If so, what should those changes be?
Remember, these are just starting points! Feel free to share your unique perspective and suggestions on how the curriculum and assessment system can be improved to better support children with SEND. The final question gives you an open opportunity to make any comments you want
-
- 54. Do you have any further views on anything else associated with the Curriculum and Assessment Review not covered in the questions throughout the call for evidence?
Together, let’s create an education system that celebrates the strengths and potential of EVERY child!
Please share this blog with your friends and family networks to spread the word. The deadline to submit your response is November 22nd, 2024. Let’s make our voices heard!