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New Research by IRIS Software Group: school leaders call for urgent intervention from Chancellor to address SEND crisis

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Survey of school leaders by IRIS Education reveals SEND funding is their top ask of the Chancellor ahead of Spring StatementMore than two-thirds (69%) say processing time for EHCPs is one of the biggest factors behind the SEND crisisNine in 10 (91%) say that securing funding for their SEND schemes is a challenge

LONDON, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IRIS Software group, a global leader in accounting, HR, payroll, and education software solutions, has released new research from its Education arm, revealing that increased funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is the top priority for school leaders ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement on March 26.

Nine in 10 (90%) school and trust leaders say the Chancellor should prioritise education spending on SEND, according to the research from IRIS Education, with a similar number (91%) reporting that securing funding is a challenge.

Rounding out school and trust leaders’ top three spending priorities were upgrading school estates (52%) and increasing teacher pay (42%)

The research, which surveyed 130 leaders from authority-backed schools, academies and trusts, found the time it required to develop education, health and care plans (EHCPs) was a key factor in their SEND challenges (69%). This ranked below a lack of money to fund SEND programmes (85%) and the rising number of children being diagnosed (90%), which were the top challenges.

“School leaders are caught between a rock and a hard place. It’s their obligation to provide the best care and support for SEND students, but that costs money and resources that they don’t have. So, it’s little surprise that it’s their primary ask of the Chancellor.

“Finding ways to use the finite resources – specifically cash and staff – more efficiently is a must. It’s interesting that many school leaders noted that, if given funding to invest in technology, they’d direct this to their SEND services, highlighting the potential for smarter solutions to enable educators to focus more on students and less on the administrative burden,” said Simon Freeman, Managing Director, IRIS Education.

As well as struggling to manage the influx of children, leaders say they are also facing a shortage of specialist teachers, with two in five (42%) local authority-backed schools saying a lack of special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) is disrupting their SEND provision.

The findings follow analysis by The Guardian that at least a dozen councils have accumulated SEND spending deficits of more than £100m, with one council spending £312m more on SEND than they are allocated by the government.

Many leaders surveyed said that they would turn to technology to help mitigate the challenges they’re facing. For those schools and trusts that are planning on investing in technology in the next three years, 59% said they would dedicate it to software that supports SEND provision. Meanwhile, half (51%) said they would invest in staff training and development platforms, and a third (35%) would invest in improved communication tools for parents.

In July 2024, IRIS partnered with PAGS, a SEND management tool that helps SENCOs and teachers to assess, plan appropriate support strategies, and track the progress of students with additional needs. Crucially, using PAGS can dramatically cut the amount of time required to gather the evidence for an EHCP application.

 “EHCPs are essential in ensuring that SEND students have the same opportunities as their peers, but the process of creating and managing them places a significant burden on schools. The time and effort required can take valuable resources away from direct student support.

“The real solution lies in making EHCP management more efficient, and our partnership with PAGS is already helping schools achieve this. But long-term change requires more than just school-level efforts—the government must work with local authorities and trusts to implement the right technology and drive sustainable reform across the SEND system,” continued Freeman.

The IRIS Education Leaders’ Survey 2025 is available here and was released ahead of the marquee webinar, The Smarter School: New Strategies for Building Efficiency and Sustainability in 2025.You can register here to watch the webinar or receive a recording.

About the survey

IRIS Software Group surveyed 130 senior leaders in England schools and trusts in January 2025. Roughly half were leaders in local authority-maintained schools, the other half from single- and multi-academy trusts.

About IRIS Software Group   

IRIS Software Group is a global provider of mission critical software and one of the UK’s largest privately held software companies. IRIS provides software solutions and services for finance, HR and payroll teams, educational organisations, and accountancy firms that takes the pain out of processes and lets professionals focus on the work they love. Through simplifying, automating and providing insights on everyday mission critical tasks for organisations of all shapes and sizes, IRIS ensures customers can look forward with certainty and confidence.  
  
IRIS is the largest third-party online filer with the UK Government. Ninety-three of the top 100 UK accountancy firms use IRIS software. One in six of the UK’s workforce is paid by IRIS payroll offerings, and globally, six million employees receive their payslip via IRIS software every month. More than 850,000 UK employees are managed by IRIS HR solutions. Over 12,000 UK schools and academies use IRIS, with four million parents and guardians using IRIS apps to connect with their children’s school; 300 million messages are delivered between schools and parents each year, and over £15 million transactional payments are processed every month. IRIS is certified as a Great Place to Work® and recognised as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2023. IRIS is also recognised as one of the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing, one of the Best Workplaces in Tech and one of the Best Workplaces for Women.  
  
To see how IRIS helps organisations get things right first time, every time, visit www.iris.co.uk or follow IRIS Software Group on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. 

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Recast Revolutionises Digital Monetisation with RecastPay, a Universal Media Wallet

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A frictionless, digital wallet enabling media owners to sell any media direct-to-consumer at any price—without subscriptions

EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Recast is redefining the way consumers access digital media through the launch of RecastPay – a universal wallet that empowers media owners to sell any digital item – videos, podcasts, articles, AI tools and beyond – directly to any consumer at any price, from £0.01 to £100 per transaction. 

With the introduction of Recast’s API, RecastPay can be integrated into any platform, enabling media owners to offer consumers seamless, flexible access to any digital item directly from their platforms, offering a subscription-free alternative that complements existing monetisation strategies.

Recast’s Affiliate & Content Syndication engine empowers media owners to amplify their reach and revenue by incentivising affiliates, brands, and consumers to promote their content. What sets Recast apart is its unique affiliate engine, which allows anyone—from fans and influencers to celebrities—to promote destinations or specific products, while permitted third parties can act as sellers. Both the promoters and sellers earn an instant share of each referred transaction. In today’s crowded direct-to-consumer market, this model enables media owners to expand marketing and distribution at no cost, all while retaining full control over their inventory and revenue streams.

“This marks a turning point for the media industry,” said Andy Meikle, Founder & CEO of Recast. “Consumers are demanding flexibility, and the traditional ‘all-or-nothing’ subscription model is failing. RecastPay empowers media owners to adapt — unlocking new revenue streams across all formats, from video and articles to AI tools and interactive experiences — with a solution that meets audiences where they are: ready to engage, and ready to pay on their own terms.”

Since 2018, Recast has led the charge in micropayment technology, helping sports and entertainment rights holders unlock new revenue from video content. The problem was clear: rising subscriptions were locking out fans, and traditional paywalls weren’t working, but this challenge extends beyond sports. Across all media, a small fraction of users convert via subscriptions—39% of people in the UK will cancel a subscription this year. With subscriptions and ad models under pressure, media owners need a smarter way to monetise content. RecastPay provides a solution, enabling media owners to capitalise on the booming micropayment economy, which Statista predicts will reach £323 billion by 2028.

“The demand for flexible content access is accelerating,” Meikle added. “Media owners using Recast’s media monetisation solution have seen an average 15.2% conversion-to-cash rate—proving that consumers are willing to pay when given the choice. RecastPay extends this success across all media types, enabling businesses to maximise reach, revenue, and audience engagement.”

With RecastPay, media owners can monetise fan consumption at any price point, from microtransactions to high-value purchases,creating new revenue opportunities without relying on rigid paywalls or ad saturation.

The significance of RecastPay’s growth potential for media owners has already been recognised with a recent shortlisting for Technology Company of the Year at the British Business Awards 2025 amongst global multinationals like Dell and Hewlett Packard. This recognition further demonstrates Recast’s innovative technology and scalable business model.

Recast Highlights and Features:

Monetise Any Digital Asset – Whether it’s articles, sports streams, premium videos, AI-powered tools, or educational content, RecastPay enables instant revenue generation from £0.01 to £100 per transaction. Earnings are instantly distributed (net of tax and fees) to relevant stakeholders based on predefined rules on each inventory item, ensuring fair, transparent and immediate revenue sharing with partners and collaborators.Increase Conversions & Engagement – Attract younger, digital-native audiences with a low-friction, pay-as-you-go model designed to drive engagement and retention.Affiliate & Syndication Engine – Anyone – fans, influencers, celebrities etc – can promote a destination or specific product and earn an instant share of each referred transaction. Permitted third parties can act as sellers on behalf of others, also earning instantly per transaction.Engineered For Data & Marketing Insights – Brands can fund users’ wallets to offer discounted access to content in exchange for solicited actions, such as data sharing or opting into marketing. This creates new opportunities for audience engagement and monetisation while strengthening relationships between brands, creators, and consumers.

As Recast continues to pioneer the future of media monetisation, RecastPay empowers media owners to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape by offering consumers the flexibility they demand. With its frictionless, subscription-free model, Recast is setting a new standard for how content is accessed, valued, and monetised.

About Recast

Recast is a premium fintech solution offering media monetisation options that unlocks new revenue for media owners by enabling them to sell any digital media or asset direct-to-consumers, on their own platforms or via affiliates, at any price – from £0.01 to £100. Every transaction is powered by RecastPay — a universal media wallet that integrates seamlessly into any platform with no upfront costs, providing consumers with flexible, subscription-free purchasing power.

Recast’s proprietary affiliate and syndication engine allows media owners to incentivise approved third parties to promote and sell their media, with revenue instantly distributed to all stakeholders. Recast’s integrated data and marketing tools, help media owners understand audience behaviour, optimise content performance, and engage directly with consumers to drive maximum value.

Based in Edinburgh and backed by US VC Morpheus Ventures, Recast is redefining how media is valued and monetised.

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ION Treasury announces launch of its Enterprise Payment Hub to centralize payment processing

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LONDON, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ION Treasury, a global provider of treasury and risk management solutions for corporations, financial institutions, and central banks, announces the launch of its Enterprise Payment Hub, a new solution, to centralize, automate, and secure payment processing.

The Enterprise Payment Hub is ideal for businesses with multiple payment source systems and numerous points of connection to their banks. Many companies lack end-to-end visibility of their payments and require consistent processes that comply with their control frameworks. The Enterprise Payment Hub consolidates the end-to-end payment process into a single platform, ensuring system-controlled security, consistency of payment workflows, file encryption, reliable connectivity, cut-off time management, and payment monitoring. The solution’s connectivity facilitates transfers of payment files between upstream systems and banks through various channels.

Real-time visibility and automation

The Enterprise Payment Hub ensures that companies never lose track of any payments as they move through the payment lifecycle. With API integration and support for SWIFT GPI, users gain real-time visibility of global payments through on-screen monitors. It is designed to maximize productivity through automation and sends alerts for any items that require timely actions.

Demonstrating ION Treasury’s commitment to supporting CFOs through their digital transformation, the Enterprise Payment Hub brings finance teams closer to their objectives. It centralizes data for use in AI applications and reduces costs by optimizing liquidity positions and lowering bank fees. It also ensures robust payment security standards to prevent fraud and tighten control of payments.

Flexibility without customization

Businesses that manage multiple payment source systems will benefit from configurable workflows that support straight-through processing (STP) for various payment types. This flexible solution can be deployed either on-premises or in the cloud and interacts with any Treasury Management System (TMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and multiple payment source systems. This makes it ideal for organizations looking to centralize their payments landscape. Enterprise Payment Hub seamlessly integrates with ION Treasury’s leading solutions Wallstreet Suite, Reval, and IT2 for an enhanced TMS experience.

Michael Kolman, Chief Product Officer at ION Treasury, says: “We are excited to bring this new innovation to CFOs and Treasurers. Visibility and controls around payment management are increasing in criticality. Enterprise Payment Hub addresses the vital need for centralized controls and enables digital transformation, while also providing businesses the potential to reduce operating costs.”

Learn more about the Enterprise Payment Hub and ION Treasury’s payment solutions.

About ION

ION provides mission-critical trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics and insights, and strategic consulting to financial institutions, central banks, governments, and corporate organizations. Our solutions and services simplify complex processes, boost efficiency, and enable better decision-making. We build long-term partnerships with our clients, helping transform their businesses for sustained success through continuous innovation. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/

About ION Treasury

ION Treasury delivers unique treasury and risk management solutions to organizations of all sizes, offering both on-premises and cloud options. Our award-winning solutions help manage liquidity and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risk. Together with a global community of over 1,100 clients, we are shaping the future of treasury and risk management technology. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/treasury/

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. 

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SOURCE ION

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JSAUX announces its first Nintendo Switch 2 accessories

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HONG KONG, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tech manufacturer JSAUX has announced its line up of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories after yesterday’s Nintendo Direct. With the console launching on June 5 and pre-orders opening April 9, this first batch is just a glimpse of more to come.

After successfully positioning itself as a market leader for handheld PC accessories, especially amongst Steam Deck players thanks to its docking stations and other gaming solutions, JSAUX has now revealed its first batch of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, further solidifying its commitment to creating the most comprehensive accessory ecosystem for the Switch 2. You can find the list below:

Switch 2 Colorful Ultra-thin Carrying Case – Sleek, lightweight, available in blue and orange.Switch 2 Carrying Case – Stores up to 10 games, with shoulder and hand straps.Switch 2 Split Transparent Ergonomic Protective Case – Protects against scratches, dust, and fingerprints, dock-friendly.Switch 2 Integrated Soft TPU Protective Case – Nearly invisible protection with full port access.Switch 2 Multi-Mode Joystick Caps – Set of six for customizable grip.Switch 2 Anti-glare Tempered Glass Screen Protector – Enhances visibility in bright settings.

Besides these first accessories, JSAUX will also launch the ModCase for Switch 2, with an anticipated release in the near future.

Designed to enhance the experience for Switch 2 users, these accessories will be ready as soon as the console arrives. To celebrate the launch, JSAUX will offer exclusive discounts, including $50 off $20 and $30 off $10 coupons for all the Switch 2 accessories, available on the official website from today until June 5th.

At the moment, the company is also working on more add-ons such as Protection & Storage Accessories, Controllers & Gaming Accessories, Charging & Power Accessories, and Console Expansion & Connectivity (Docking Stations) that will be announced shortly.

About JSAUX

JSAUX is a global tech innovator known for its quality and forward-thinking design. Since 2016, the brand has grown to serve over 20 million customers in 100+ countries. Initially recognized for its Amazon best-sellers, JSAUX quickly became a leader in the Steam Deck accessories market and has since diversified its portfolio. From gaming peripherals and portable monitors to premium iPhone accessories, JSAUX continues to deliver solutions that prioritize customer needs and innovation.

Follow JSAUX on social media for updates.

TwitterFacebookInstagramPress Kit

 

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SOURCE JSAUX

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