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Simon Knight

@simonknight100

Joint Headteacher of a Special School with an interest in all things SEND and BWFC.

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09.08.2024
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Latest posts by Simon Knight @simonknight100

It’s a brilliant watch, and great to see how well respected he was by his peers. The Guardiola bit made me smile too.

09.03.2026 22:13 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

My lad’s, I’m too old for filming. It was brilliant. Went with my eldest and my Mum and Dad. Back up for Stockport in a few weeks.

07.03.2026 22:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Absolute scenes.

07.03.2026 20:39 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Screen shot of a football score showing Bolton 3 Wycombe 2

Screen shot of a football score showing Bolton 3 Wycombe 2

Football. Bloody hell!! What a game to be at.

07.03.2026 20:30 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Dave review – prodigiously skilled rapper conjures thrilling intimacy on a grand scale Showcasing chart-topping album The Boy Who Played the Harp, Dave charismatically switches between heavy beats, rock-show grandeur and searching introspection

Can’t wait for next Friday……

05.03.2026 22:46 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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How to get early years specialist provision right Hackney’s first early years additional resource provision opened in September. Its headteacher tells Tes how the specialist setting and curriculum are supporting some of the youngest children with com...

This is an area of provision we need to be thinking hard and thinking often about if we want the system to work better for children who need something more to thrive. The benefits we saw when we were involved in something similar were significant, and the consequences of its closure profound.

05.03.2026 13:04 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The technical note on School's Costs has been published. It is important to note that this doesn't include Specialist Schools, & as such there is no evidence that the Teacher, or indeed Support Staff, pay awards are affordable within that sector.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69a5c5...

04.03.2026 09:25 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Callout reads #FFBWednesday: Connecting UK Educators and Education.

A matrix shows excellent people involved in education, including worthy BlueSky contributors: 
1.	@simonebeach.bsky.social, a primary school headteacher
2.	@bennewmark.bsky.social, a secondary school teacher
3.	@hoylerosemary.bsky.social, a chair of governors
4.	@5naureen.bsky.social, a school governor
5.	@primaryteachermary.bsky.social, a primary school teacher
6.	@nourishworkplce.bsky.social, a supporter for school wellbeing
7.	@simonknight100.bsky.social, a special school headteacher
8.	@danlyndon.bsky.social, a secondary history specialist / teacher
9.	@schoolsweek.bsky.social, a widely respected education newspaper.

Footer reads @9000Lives.org

Callout reads #FFBWednesday: Connecting UK Educators and Education. A matrix shows excellent people involved in education, including worthy BlueSky contributors: 1. @simonebeach.bsky.social, a primary school headteacher 2. @bennewmark.bsky.social, a secondary school teacher 3. @hoylerosemary.bsky.social, a chair of governors 4. @5naureen.bsky.social, a school governor 5. @primaryteachermary.bsky.social, a primary school teacher 6. @nourishworkplce.bsky.social, a supporter for school wellbeing 7. @simonknight100.bsky.social, a special school headteacher 8. @danlyndon.bsky.social, a secondary history specialist / teacher 9. @schoolsweek.bsky.social, a widely respected education newspaper. Footer reads @9000Lives.org

Bringing #FFBWednesday to BlueSky.

Ready to build genuine education connections?
πŸ’« Like and repost
πŸ’« Comment with your edu bio + #FFBWeds
πŸ’« Follow everyone who participates

Let's create the education community BlueSky deserves.

04.03.2026 06:45 πŸ‘ 47 πŸ” 30 πŸ’¬ 26 πŸ“Œ 10

Coming tomorrow to Bluesky:

Follow Follow Back Wednesday

πŸ’« A chance to find and connect with others who care about UK education.

πŸ’« A chance to help build supportive and friendly education networks here.

πŸ’« #EduSky πŸ’«

03.03.2026 06:45 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 3

There is far too much pressure to live your best life these days. Leave me alone and let me live my most middling life in peace, with the colourful miscellany of highs and lows that naturally entails.

01.03.2026 11:17 πŸ‘ 385 πŸ” 63 πŸ’¬ 9 πŸ“Œ 5

The cost, both monetary & staff capacity / delivery, on specialist sector needs to be very carefully scrutinised. It could be a very positive shift, but it cannot be at the expense of any child’s education.

01.03.2026 12:34 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I think that is an area that needs exploring carefully, but I am uncomfortable with money going out of the system via payments to organisations whose primary function is to make money.

01.03.2026 11:06 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This is why it’s complex. That position would risk compromising the non-maintained sector, who are non-profit charities, and in some cases provide a specialism to meet a need that is such low incidence that an LA would struggle to deliver.

01.03.2026 11:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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I love magnolia season

01.03.2026 10:20 πŸ‘ 387 πŸ” 21 πŸ’¬ 15 πŸ“Œ 3

This is the benefit of the consultation process being followed by a significant implementational period. We can collectively grapple with the complexities and take decisions that lead to better outcomes for children in a better functioning system.

01.03.2026 10:48 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Further thought is certainly going to be necessary to reach the right balance. Not least because some organisations in that part of the system support children with incredibly low incidence needs, whose provision would be difficult to replicate in the maintained sector.

01.03.2026 09:36 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Screen shot from a section of the DfE SEND consultation that discusses independent special school costs.

Screen shot from a section of the DfE SEND consultation that discusses independent special school costs.

They have put something in the SEND consultation.

01.03.2026 09:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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For the first time, a British Sign Language rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone was performed at Anfield before Liverpool vs. West Ham ❀️

28.02.2026 15:10 πŸ‘ 3210 πŸ” 365 πŸ’¬ 56 πŸ“Œ 26
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Some news on my next book....

www.thebookseller.com/rights/sam-f...

27.02.2026 15:10 πŸ‘ 180 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 19 πŸ“Œ 1

The return of teacher led SEND education is a positive step. Teachers know what helps children learn and make progress when they gain extra support. Where there is uncertainty, a specialist can be consulted. This was my experience of schools pre 2014. It worked. Now we need the staff, not toys

28.02.2026 14:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

And also careful consideration regarding how to release the best specialist sector staff without impacting on specialist sector performance. There will also need to be really effective local/national evaluation of impact to see where it’s working best and identify commonality of need to inform CPD.

28.02.2026 14:22 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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SEND reform: Experts at hand service could be a game-changer Trust leader Tom Campbell says quick access to SEND experts - especially educational psychologists - could be transformative

This is an important part of the reforms, not just getting expertise where it is needed more easily, but also from the point of view of building collective responsibility, with specialist settings & mainstream working in partnership as a community of schools serving a community of children.

28.02.2026 14:16 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I do hope this will attract experienced EPs back to public service. A broader role and more time to support schools will be a big draw.

28.02.2026 13:54 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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a man in a black leather outfit is dancing in front of a crowd of people . ALT: a man in a black leather outfit is dancing in front of a crowd of people .

Or Derek developing a new look.

28.02.2026 13:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Certainly seems to be at our gym. My boys have to wear wristbands when they go, based on age, and that determines what they can use.

28.02.2026 07:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

In a nutshell:
Most edu diagnoses are tautological.
They can help but too often we assume they do and we don't look at the trade offs closely enough.
Last session of the day at @researchedbrum.bsky.social

28.02.2026 07:27 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

There is also a real need to ensure that we have absolute clarity about what exceptional Specialist provision look like and why, otherwise we risk knowledge exchange being a form of contagion rather than improvement. And my sector is not the shining example it is sometimes thought to be.

27.02.2026 21:16 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

This is why you need to put in really comprehensive submissions to the consultation, to help make sure that this is not the outcome. The intent of the reforms has the potential to be a real force for good, but only the implementation will ensure that the system delivers it.

27.02.2026 21:14 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I think trying to get the sector to solidify around shared understanding is important, along with agreed language, & accept that not having that is an implementational risk. This may be where groups of schools and better collective responsibility may help to, at least, have a locally agreed vision.

26.02.2026 21:21 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I think we should do the inclusion standards stuff first. Clean up the evidence base etc. Then big changes after that. Everything all at once feels very very very risky.

26.02.2026 20:16 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0