Today the UK Government has announced a new set of standards to support pupils working below the national curriculum claiming to help all children to reach their potential.

Minister for Education, Nick Gibb explains how these 'pre-key stage' standards have been developed with teachers and a range of other education experts aiming to help support the transition of a child into the national curriculum.
These new standards replace the former 'P Scales'.

Nick Gibb is quoted as saying

"We want every child to have the support they need to unlock their potential, no matter what challenges they face. The attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed by 10 per cent and almost 222,000 children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities are now receiving tailored support thanks to our Education, Health and Care plans.

Today’s publication will help ensure pupils with these additional needs are better supported to transition onto the national curriculum, if and when they are ready to do so. It builds on the significant progress we have made over the last four years to make sure all children and young people with educational needs, and their families, have access to excellent support to help guide them through school."

The link for the full release from the UK Gov can be found later in this article but I do want to make the comment first about the reference to Education, Health and Care Plans.

It is my belief that that general understanding on how the EHCP system works is poor and that many parents are not aware that they could be able to apply for one from their local authority. It is great that 222,000 children are benefiting from this system but personally I think that more needs to be done to help children to get an EHCP.

Whilst I am sure that the new standards will help to identify children that need support I am concerned about how easily they will get access to that support when schools generally are struggling with finding.

Read the announcement from the UK Gov.

What are your thoughts?