Special Needs Jungle was created in 2008 by Tania Tirraoro as a way to help parents apply for then statements of SEN. She realised that many families were not getting the help they needed because they didn't know where to look or how to cut their way through the increasingly complicated system.
The website soon began to feature other resources and the new SEN Green Paper, which was to eventually become the Children and Families Act 2014.
What does Special Needs Jungle feature?
SNJ aims to highlight existing resources, create new ones, and inspire and empower families to do this successfully by providing information, tips, facts and examples of good practice. Over the years SNJ has grown to become the most-read SEND blog in the country, with articles from young people, parents and SEND professionals and researchers.
Special Needs Jungle is an influential source of SEND information, with articles covering the latest in SEND news and highlighting the voices of parents and of expert professionals dedicated to fixing SEND. It is packed with useful information about special educational needs and disability issues faced by children and their parents as well as useful resources, how-tos and guides for improving SEND provision. It's been described as the "go-to" place for teachers as well as anyone interested in SEND. Special Needs Jungle has won many plaudits, including being named top healthcare blog by influence-measurers Vuelio for the last three years running.
More about the Special Needs Jungle Directors
SNJ's Co-Directors are Tania Tirraoro and Renata Blower. Special Needs Jungle has collaborated with the Department for Education to develop a set of easy-to-understand flowcharts detailing how the new special educational needs system works. Designed by SNJ founder, Tania Tirraoro, they are now used by local authorities, schools and parents alike. They are also in the official SEND reform information packs. They are free to download, reproduce and use provided the attribution logos remain intact.
SNJ is a member of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, Genetic Alliance UK, and the Council for Disabled Children. SNJ is also a member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Tania is a member of the Ofsted SEND Stakeholder Advisory Group and the Nasen/Whole School SEND ERG for improving the SEND workforce. Renata site on the Herts Parent Carer Involvement Board and a number of NHS patient boards.
Towards the end of 2019, Tania realised that if the main SEND parent-led groups joined together they would be a powerful voice. SEND National Crisis and SEND Action agreed and together they formed SEND Community Alliance.
Special Needs Jungle is registered at Companies House as a not-for-profit organisation, Company Limited by Guarantee. Registration Number 9162844.
Website: SpecialNeedsJungle.com
