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It’s the little things, being able to use a quiet room, not having to wear a uniform that feels uncomfortable or being able to use an exit pass to leave the classroom when you’re too overwhelmed to speak.  These simple things can change now and can make such a difference.

This recent Education Report from the National Autistic Society (UK) is full of examples that demonstrate the power that small adjustments can make to the lives of autistic children and young people. The report includes recommendations such as allowing students to use exit passes and fidget toys in class. Changes like these could be made tomorrow, and drastically change the experience of autistic pupils.

Read the full report for more recommendations.

The Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) is an independent interdisciplinary panel of leading global education experts that provides guidance on cost-effective approaches to improving learning for low- and middle-income countries.

The latest report, just launched, is 2023 Cost-Effective Approaches to Improve Global Learning – What does recent evidence tell us are ‘Smart Buys’ for improving learning in low- and middle-income countries?

Great buys include:

• Investing in parent-directed early childhood development interventions, which coach parents in how to provide early childhood stimulation.
• Support teachers with structured pedagogy programs including structured lesson plans, learning materials, and ongoing teacher support.
• Target teaching instruction by learning level instead of by grade.
• Provide quality pre-primary education also yields large long-term economic benefits in countries at all levels of income.

Read more about the history of the report and the recommendations they make going forward.

In 2015, world leaders enshrined their commitment to girls’ education in Sustainable Development Goal 4: Achieve universal quality education for all by 2030.  Yet high-level pledges have too rarely translated into good policies and strong investment. The result: millions of girls shut out of classrooms, dropping out early or left behind in learning.

Malala Fund’s report cards are for advocates who want to understand the world’s slow progress on girls’ education—and demand action to remedy it.

Examine the current status of girls’ education in 120 low and middle income countries using official government data (SDG scores) on progress and assessment of policy frameworks (policy scores) against ones proven to help girls complete school and realise their ambitions.

Track donor countries’ progress on their commitments and prioritisation of girls’ education within their Overseas Development Assistance (donor score).

Girls can’t wait any longer to see their dreams become reality.

The Disability Inclusion Helpdesk, hosted by Social Development Direct aims to deliver tangible outcomes to improve the lives of people with disability; provide evidence-based understandings of ‘what works’ to deliver results for people with disabilities; ensure data and evidence produced leads to increased action and investment.

SDDirect’s team of in-house experienced researchers work alongside over 80 senior disability inclusion experts with experience across different themes, sectors and geographies to provide advice on disability inclusion in development, education, Fragile Conflict Affected Settings (FCAS) and humanitarian settings.

The latest evidence digest produced by the Disability Inclusion Helpdesk on Ageing and Disability Inclusion is now available to download. It is number 15 in the series.

An easy-read version is also available.

The world’s youngest children deserve better.

Without the right early years support, children fall behind even before they have started school. The early years is when inequality sets in. Millions of the world’s children go without the quality care and early learning they require.

If you feel it’s time to Act For Early Years too – sign a letter to world leaders and read more about the campaign from Theriword.

How do you get world leaders to sit up and take notice of the plight of very young children? One way is to give those children a voice and put them at the centre of a global campaign.

That’s what Theirworld has done with Act For Early Years – a major campaign to tackle a worldwide crisis by calling for urgent quality childcare and preschool learning for every child.

They knew that giving children under five the opportunity to have their say would be a powerful way of getting through to leaders and governments who are letting them down.

Theirworld worked with partners and the brand studio Saboteur to create a special font that uses children’s writing and features in our Act For Early Years report and campaigning. Children’s drawings and doodles also help to reinforce the message.

Take a look at how the font was created and why it’s having a big impact.

This course looks at how Education in Emergencies (EiE) programmes can incorporate activities to actively tackle the potential psychological and emotional distress experienced by teachers and students in emergency situations.

This course unit is part of the full Education in Emergencies (EiE) Online pathway endorsed by INEE. 

This course is also available in French, Spanish and Arabic.