The Observer Daily: How to fix special needs education

The best of The Observer, from across our newsroom View in browser How to fix special needs education The best of The Observer, from across our newsroom Rebecca Myers and Brad Gray • Friday 18 July 2025 Dear friend, How do you fix special needs education? This is a question ministers, schools and charities are grappling with as diagnoses and demand for help rise, and the money available to fund that help looks scarce. Our political editor Rachel Sylvester found some answers in Bradford, where a pioneering project has been tracking almost 14,000 children and is able to predict with remarkable accuracy the kind of help they might need – and get it to them faster. She also speaks to politicians and education leaders about how we got here, and what might happen next, as Labour fear another welfare-style rebellion over the issue. As Sylvester explains, the consequences are huge. By getting it wrong, we are squandering the potential of thousands of children. By getting it right, we could change their lives – and our country. Click here to read more → "The enemy of nonsense" – George Orwell Also in The Observer 'Rafah proposal masks plan for mass deportation' The Israeli defence minister has announced plans to move remaining Gazans to a 'humanitarian' city built on the ruins of Rafah. Dalia Hatuqa writes that the move "effectively places Palestinians in a mass encampment project under the guise of humanitarian relief". She says: "You do not need to be a lawyer or expert in international law to see this plan for what it really is: the final piece in a drawn-out Israeli scheme to get rid of Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave for good."      Click here to read more → 'I'm a doctor who thinks a strike can only harm the NHS' by Adam Boggon        Members of the British Medical Association are a week away from striking. Resident doctor pay is at the centre of a dispute between the union and the government, with the BMA demanding a 29 per cent rise over three years. A little over half of members did not vote to strike in the latest ballot. Adam Boggon, a 33-year-old resident doctor, says he won't join the strike. He makes a compelling argument, writing: "I would like the health service to work, and to live in a country where we meet others halfway." Click here to read more → Stop crying your heart out by Xavier Greenwood       Try to explain why a song means so much to someone who has never connected with it. You can talk about the sweeping chords, the melodies, the words that are emblazoned in your mind. But it's nearly impossible to really get the feelings across. Xavier Greenwood, who was one of many watching Oasis through tears in Manchester last week, comes close. About the "illogical anthem" Champagne Supernova, he writes: "I cried for its place in my spool of memories, for seeing it move so many others, for the way it courts attention from six emotions at once." Click here to read more → Swede Caroline by Jessy Parker Humphreys        With 20 minutes left against Sweden last night, England's dream of retaining the Euros was fading. The match had been emotionally exhausting and physically bruising. But tournaments are made for moments of magic. Jessy Parker Humphreys writes about Chloe Kelly, whose introduction in the 78th minute sparked an explosive comeback. Two goals in quick succession, another 40 minutes of agony, and a shoot-out that will live long in the memory. On to Italy. Click here to read more → Listen The News Meeting Trump and the Epstein files Will the conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein divide Trump from his MAGA supporters? Can British culture accept genetically modifying embryos to prevent serious diseases? And why have we only just learned of the data breach involving Afghan refugees? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's head of audio Jasper Corbett, reporter Phoebe Davis and producer Poppy Bullard. Click here to listen → Thanks for reading. We'll be back on Monday.    Rebecca Myers Acting national news editor The Observer Brad Gray Production editor, newsletters The Observer   My Account To manage your newsletters, track tickets and more, go to the 'My account' page on the Observer website: Manage my newsletters Follow Follow The Observer on social media on your preferred platform:   The Observer     The Observer Food Monthly The Observer Magazine The Observer New Review   Listen Listen for free in the Tortoise app or wherever you get your podcasts: Want to change how you receive these emails? Update email preferences Copyright © 2025 Tortoise Media. All rights reserved. Did this email get caught in your spam filter? Add editor@newsroom.observer.co.uk to your address book to never miss an email again. No longer want to receive this newsletter? Unsubscribe here.