The government has been urged to retain education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Ministers have so far refused to rule out scrapping the education plans, but campaigners argue they provide children with special educational needs with “vital provision,” and “precious legal protections.” When...
FRT nominated at the National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards
First Response Training (FRT) were nominated for an award at this year’s National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards. The leading national training provider was nominated in the Employer category, and had the distinction of being the only training provider to be shortlisted in this category. Held on Friday 4th July 2025 at the ICC...
NHS 10-Year Plan outlines key reforms for healthcare
The government recently published their NHS 10-Year Plan, which outlines key reforms for the future of healthcare in England, but omits learnings from avoidable deaths. The Fit for the future: 10-Year Health Plan for England was published on 3rd July 2025 to address the “critical condition” of the NHS and “guarantee its sustainability for...
Oliver McGowan Draft Code of Practice sets standards for training
The government has published the new Oliver McGowan draft code of practice on statutory learning disability and autism training, which sets out the standards required of this training. The Oliver McGowan draft code of practice has been developed to support the implementation of the statutory requirement, introduced by the Health and Care Act 2022,...
April is World Autism Acceptance Month
April is World Autism Acceptance Month, with Wednesday 2nd April kickstarting a month of celebration and awareness-raising with World Autism Awareness Day. The global campaign aims to “raise awareness, foster acceptance and create a society where autistic people are supported, understood and empowered.” In the UK, the National Autistic Society wants to change attitudes...
Achieving better care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has been leading on a project to review the care and treatment that people with learning disabilities and autistic people receive. Britain’s care watchdog was asked by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to lead Independent Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (ICTR) over the next two years...
One million people complete Oliver McGowan eLearning
Over one million people have now completed the e-learning segment of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. The “significant milestone” comes one year after the Oliver McGowan e-learning package was launched and seven years after Oliver’s tragic death in November 2016. The e-learning programme, which forms the first part of...
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training ‘vitally important’
NHS England have developed a powerful video animation to help the health and social care workforce understand the importance of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training package. It has been made available as the Department of Health and Social Care runs a consultation on its draft code of practice for the training. The Oliver McGowan...