Alliance set to streamline SEND management in schools and offer more comprehensive support to neurodiverse learners.
Earlier this week, software giant IRIS announced a strategic partnership with PAGS, a developer of special education technology that empowers educators to optimise the potential of learners with Cognitive and Social Thinking Differences.
Approximately one in seven people in the UK identify as neurodiverse. Integrating PAGS’ technology into IRIS’ Ed:gen and iSAMS platforms is intended to help schools manage assessments, development, and provision of support for SEND students.
Currently, over 1,600 educational institutions use either Ed:gen or iSAMS as their school MIS. These schools will now be able to pull student data into the PAGS management system automatically, which the companies claim will reduce the time it takes Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) to create targeted, personalised plans and assessments for SEND pupils.
The companies also highlighted how their partnership would help to streamline applications for high-needs government funding “a process which can typically take an average of 20 weeks for SENCOs and requires a high volume of evidence gathering”.
Simon Freeman, Managing Director for Education at IRIS, said: “Children with special educational needs and disabilities face significant challenges, including an estimated 25% of autistic children having a higher likelihood of struggling with school attendance and students with ADHD having GPAs that are, on average, lower than their neurotypical peers.”
“PAGS is a natural partner for IRIS; we both invest in solutions that foster inclusive education and prioritise pupil wellbeing. By working together, we can help educators reduce the time spent on manual data entry in spreadsheets and give them more data at their disposal to create impactful strategies to drive better outcomes for pupils. This support will be especially valuable for schools facing SEND budget constraints.”
Feliciea Jibson, CEO of PAGS Assessment & Provision, added: “Joining forces with IRIS will empower us to deliver an unprecedented level of support and efficiency to schools. Our combined expertise will ensure that both administrative processes and student support are handled with outstanding proficiency, ultimately leading to better educational outcomes.”
WhichMIS? welcomes such a collaboration between edtech software companies, particularly given the challenges and constraints faced by those responsible for SEN provision in the UK’s schools.
