A potential new treatment for children living with Dravet syndrome has shown encouraging results, with researchers reporting seizure reductions of up to 91%. Dravet syndrome is a rare genetic form of epilepsy that causes severe and frequent seizures, along with developmental difficulties that can affect behaviour, learning and overall quality of life.

The treatment, known as zorevunersen, targets the underlying genetic cause of the condition. Dravet syndrome is often linked to a fault in the SCN1A gene, which normally produces a protein vital for healthy nerve cell function. When this gene does not work properly, nerve signalling in the brain can become disrupted, leading to the severe seizures seen in patients.

In a clinical study involving 81 children in the UK and the United States, the medication was administered through a lumbar puncture. Participants initially experienced an average of 17 seizures each month before treatment began. After receiving doses of the drug, many patients experienced significant reductions in seizure frequency over an extended follow-up period, with some showing reductions of between 59% and 91%.

Researchers also reported improvements in quality of life and noted that most side effects observed during the trial were mild. Experts say the drug could potentially alter the progression of the disease rather than simply managing symptoms. Further investigation is now underway in larger phase three trials to determine whether the treatment could become widely available for children affected by this rare and severe condition.

Millions of disabled and older people across the UK are effectively shut out of public transport because many parts of the network remain inaccessible, new research suggests. Engineers say inconsistent accessibility across stations, vehicles and transport interchanges continues to create major barriers for passengers who rely on accessible infrastructure to travel safely and independently.

The study urges the government to prioritise upgrading existing transport infrastructure rather than focusing primarily on new projects. Experts argue that while modern trains may include improved accessibility features, many older stations still lack basic facilities such as lifts, step-free access and clear signage. Without addressing these longstanding issues, many people remain unable to reach platforms or complete journeys without assistance.

Researchers say the problem has wider economic consequences. Limited access to transport can prevent disabled people from reaching workplaces, educational opportunities, healthcare appointments and social activities. Studies suggest the UK economy could benefit by around £72 billion annually if the accessibility gap in transport were significantly reduced, highlighting the broader impact of exclusion from travel.

The report calls for accessibility improvements to be built into the earliest stages of transport planning and procurement. Measures such as tactile paving, step-free routes and accessible wayfinding should be mandatory in new developments and upgrades. Experts argue that incorporating these features from the start is far more cost-effective than retrofitting them later and would help ensure public transport systems are designed to work for everyone.

Families supporting adults with learning disabilities say their confidence in social care services would improve if communication and transparency were strengthened, according to new research. The study, conducted by Log my Care in partnership with Care England, highlights the importance of keeping families informed and involved throughout the care process.

More than 1,000 people responsible for arranging care for a relative took part in the survey, which explored how families communicate with providers, their use of digital tools and their overall level of trust in the care system. The findings suggest many families would like clearer and more frequent updates about the care their relatives receive, particularly through digital platforms that allow them to stay informed in real time.

While many families already use technology to keep in touch with care providers, the report found a gap between expectations and reality. A majority of respondents said they would welcome daily updates through apps or online portals, but fewer currently receive them. Some families also reported having no access to digital systems at all, limiting their ability to stay connected with care services.

Researchers say improving digital communication could help strengthen trust between families and care providers. However, they also warn that technology alone will not solve the issue. Investment in training, staff support and effective systems will be essential to ensure digital tools genuinely improve transparency and help families feel confident in the care their loved ones receive.

The Government has announced a £4 billion investment over the next three years aimed at improving support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools. The funding forms part of wider education reforms expected to be outlined in the upcoming schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, which focuses on making education more inclusive for all pupils.

A key part of the investment is the creation of a £1.6 billion Inclusive Mainstream Fund, which will be distributed directly to early years settings, schools and colleges. The funding is intended to help education providers deliver early interventions and targeted small-group support for pupils who begin to show signs of additional needs, ensuring help is provided before problems escalate.

The plans also include £1.8 billion to establish a new “Experts at Hand” service. This initiative will provide schools with access to specialist professionals such as SEND teachers, speech and language therapists and other experts within local areas. Local councils will oversee the commissioning of these professionals, working alongside health partners to ensure support is readily available for any child who requires additional help, regardless of whether they have an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

While the reforms have been broadly welcomed, some organisations and charities have raised concerns about whether the funding will be sufficient to address long-standing pressures within the SEND system. Education groups say that although the investment is a positive step, meaningful change will depend on ensuring schools have the resources, training and specialist support needed to meet the growing demand for SEND services.

A new research project is set to explore how Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) Reports could shape improvements in health and social care for people with learning disabilities. PFD Reports are issued by coroners in England and Wales after inquests when they believe action is required to avoid similar deaths occurring again.

Evidence consistently shows that people with learning disabilities face significantly reduced life expectancy and are more likely to die prematurely than the wider population. Yet in many cases, early deaths do not result in an inquest, meaning potential lessons may go unidentified. The study aims to examine the concerns raised by coroners and consider how those findings could better inform frontline services.

Funded by the NIHR School for Social Care Research, the project will analyse all relevant PFD Reports published since 2013. Led by Dr George Julian, alongside academic partners from the University of Bristol and Manchester Metropolitan University, the research will involve collaboration with people with learning disabilities, bereaved families, practitioners and advocacy groups.

Researchers hope to draw together key themes from the reports and identify practical steps for improving care. By sharing findings widely across the sector, the team aims to ensure that the warnings highlighted by coroners lead to meaningful change and help prevent avoidable deaths in the future.

The government has unveiled sweeping reforms to England’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, introducing new terminology and reshaping how support is delivered. Alongside existing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), families will soon encounter Individual Support Plans (ISPs), as well as three tiers of provision and forthcoming national inclusion standards. Ministers say the aim is to make help more consistent and easier to access.

One of the most significant proposals is that, by 2035, EHCPs will be reserved for pupils with the most complex needs. These legally binding documents outline a child’s requirements and the support local authorities must provide. Children who already have an EHCP will keep it until they complete their current phase of education, after which reassessments will begin from September 2029. Parents will still be able to request assessments and appeal decisions.

All pupils with SEND will instead receive an ISP, a new plan setting out day-to-day support and intended outcomes. Schools and colleges will draft these in consultation with families and review them annually. Concerns about ISPs must first go through school complaints procedures.

Support will be organised into “targeted”, “targeted plus” and “specialist” levels, depending on need. Only those receiving specialist provision packages are expected to qualify for EHCPs in future, with national inclusion standards due by 2028.

Disability and education campaigners have raised the alarm after reports in the national press suggested the government may cut back support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in its long-awaited Schools White Paper, expected early next week.

According to a report in The Times, ministers are considering tougher rules for access to statutory support, including reassessing children’s entitlement when they transfer to secondary school. The article claimed the aim would be to reduce what officials view as overly “rigid” legal duties, which have been linked to rising costs in the SEND system.

The leak also suggested that many pupils with less severe needs – including some children diagnosed with autism or ADHD – could lose eligibility for education, health and care plans (EHCPs). Instead, a tiered approach has been mooted, where children would start with standard support in mainstream schools and only move up to higher levels if necessary. Under the proposals, nationally designed “specialist provision packages” would be used to decide which needs qualify for the top tier.

Groups including Save Our Children’s Rights said stripping legal protections would not solve the crisis, arguing the existing law should be properly enforced instead. The National Autistic Society also criticised the way information was emerging through leaks, warning that repeated reassessments and weaker rights to challenge decisions would be unacceptable. The Department for Education insisted full details would be published shortly, describing the plans as an expansion of children’s rights and a move towards a more inclusive system.

The government has announced a 7% increase to the Minimum Income Guarantee for working-age disabled adults who receive social care, delivering an average annual boost of around £400. More than 150,000 people are expected to benefit from the above-inflation rise, with those qualifying for the disability premium able to retain up to £510 extra each year.

The Minimum Income Guarantee sets the amount councils must leave individuals with for personal spending after they have contributed towards the cost of their home-based care. Ministers say the uplift will help people manage essential outgoings such as groceries, energy bills and other daily expenses, as part of wider efforts to reform adult social care and promote greater independence.

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said the changes were aimed at easing financial strain on some of the most vulnerable in society. From April, he said, eligible adults would keep hundreds of pounds more of their income. The Personal Expenses Allowance for those in residential settings, along with the guarantee for people over 65, will rise by 3.8%.

Charities have offered a mixed response. Mencap welcomed the increase as progress, though it reiterated its call for social care to be free at the point of need. Disability Rights UK argued that the revised rate still falls short of what is required for a decent standard of living and urged a broader review of disability-related costs.

Ministers have unveiled a new National Cancer Plan aimed at tackling stark inequalities faced by disabled people, particularly those with learning disabilities. The strategy pledges to improve early diagnosis and provide more personalised care throughout treatment and recovery. An accompanying equality impact assessment acknowledges that disabled patients are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, attend A&E before receiving a diagnosis, and face a higher risk of death.

Evidence reviewed during the plan’s development found that people with learning disabilities are significantly less likely to be referred for urgent investigations when presenting so-called ‘red flag’ symptoms. Barriers include limited understanding among healthcare professionals and screening staff about reasonable adjustments, accessible communication and the specific needs of autistic people and those with learning disabilities.

The reforms are backed by a £2.3 billion investment, intended to fund 9.5 million extra diagnostic tests by 2029. This will include more scanners, expanded community diagnostic centres operating extended hours, and upgraded digital systems. Patients will also be offered the earliest available appointments across local NHS providers, while efforts to boost digital inclusion aim to ensure disabled people are not left behind.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said cancer outcomes should not depend on personal circumstances. Disability organisations have welcomed commitments to earlier identification and improved screening access, including engagement with manufacturers to develop mammography equipment suitable for people with physical impairments.

Around one in three autistic pupils have missed more than a month of school so far this academic year, with families citing poor mental health, physical illness and unsuitable placements as key reasons. The findings come from a new survey by the charity Ambitious about Autism.

The charity said many parents and young people feel they are being unfairly judged for non-attendance. Half of those who responded reported feeling blamed by the Government when school is missed, despite the barriers they face in accessing education.

The survey lands as ministers prepare to publish a long-awaited plan to overhaul the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. Expected reforms are likely to put greater emphasis on improving mainstream provision, where more than 70% of autistic pupils are currently educated. Ambitious about Autism argues that without properly funded support, mainstream schools will continue to struggle to meet needs, pushing more children out of learning.

The charity said its findings reflect Department for Education figures showing more than 60,000 autistic pupils in England are persistently absent, typically missing around a month or more across the school year. It is calling for better training, resources and consistent specialist support. Alongside this, it has launched its “Absence Notes” campaign, inviting autistic young people and families to share their experiences and sign a collective message urging the Government to ensure SEND reforms work in practice.