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Special Needs Jungle
News, info, resources & informed opinion about Special Educational Needs, disability, children’s physical and mental health, rare disease. Campaigning to #FixSEND
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Author: <span>Debs Aspland</span>
Home Articles posted by Debs Aspland

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Author: Debs Aspland

Mum of 3, wife of 1, Exec Director of Bringing Us Together, Owner of Inspiring Circles, Writer of Chaos in Kent, Development - South at Community Circles
Accountability: the number one change you would like
Accountability, SEN Reforms, special needs

Accountability: the number one change you would like

By Debs Aspland March 7, 2016 March 13, 2016

In January, we ran a giveaway for a copy of Disabled children, A Legal Handbook.  Congratulations to Lisa Thomas who won the copy. When people entered the giveaway, we also …

Read more"Accountability: the number one change you would like"
Life Skills – are children with VI missing out?
visual impairment

Life Skills – are children with VI missing out?

By Debs Aspland March 2, 2016 March 2, 2016

This week has seen Blind Children UK raising awareness of the lack of “habilitation” services (to help with life skills) for children with Visual Impairment. Habilitation training covers many aspects …

Read more"Life Skills – are children with VI missing out?"
Tests:  Do you and your child find them testing?
It's about the school, parenting, social anxiety disorder, special educational needs

Tests: Do you and your child find them testing?

By Debs Aspland February 3, 2016 February 3, 2016

It’s that time of the term again here in the Aspland household.  Tests! One week every term is handed over to testing what my children know.  Now, I am not …

Read more"Tests: Do you and your child find them testing?"
£80 million to boost support for Special Educational Needs
SEN Reforms, special needs

£80 million to boost support for Special Educational Needs

By Debs Aspland February 1, 2016 March 31, 2016

 On Friday, the Department for Education (DfE) announced that £80 million was to be made available to extend opportunities to children with special educational needs and disabilities. The announcement stated: A …

Read more"£80 million to boost support for Special Educational Needs"
SNJ Review: Disabled Children – a Legal Handbook
Disability, Reviews, SEN Legislation, special needs

SNJ Review: Disabled Children – a Legal Handbook

By Debs Aspland January 18, 2016 March 17, 2017

At the end of last year, there was much excitement in the world of SEND when the second edition of the Disabled Children – a legal handbook was published. For …

Read more"SNJ Review: Disabled Children – a Legal Handbook"
How did my Goals for 2015 go?
parenting, Personal Posts

How did my Goals for 2015 go?

By Debs Aspland January 13, 2016 January 10, 2016

Last January, I wrote about my six goals for families in the Jungle in 2015. They were quite straight forward and I was hopeful that I could reach those goals …

Read more"How did my Goals for 2015 go?"
What DO you buy for a child with a visual impairment at Christmas
Christmas, special needs, TopTips, visual impairment

What DO you buy for a child with a visual impairment at Christmas

By Debs Aspland November 23, 2015 November 19, 2015

I love Christmas – I really am one of those annoying people who gets into the festive spirit with huge gusto.  Sorry. However, the one thing that gets to me …

Read more"What DO you buy for a child with a visual impairment at Christmas"
It’s all about Sight this week.
parenting, visual impairment

It’s all about Sight this week.

By Debs Aspland October 7, 2015 October 7, 2015

This week is a big week in the world of visual impairment.  This week sees the “Let’s Glow” week for Guide Dogs UK and on Thursday 8th October, it is World …

Read more"It’s all about Sight this week."
Plain and Simple – Personal Budgets are about having control
Guest Posts, Health, personal budgets, SEN Reforms

Plain and Simple – Personal Budgets are about having control

By Debs Aspland October 5, 2015 October 5, 2015

Today, we are really delighted to have a guest post from Nic Crosby from In-Control.  Personal Budgets are something many of us have heard about, a few of us have been …

Read more"Plain and Simple – Personal Budgets are about having control"
What’s missing in the Special Needs Jungle
SEN Legislation, special educational needs

What’s missing in the Special Needs Jungle

By Debs Aspland September 30, 2015 November 4, 2015

We have a sizeable following on Special Needs Jungle both on the site and via social media. However that also gives us a big responsibility to tell it like it …

Read more"What’s missing in the Special Needs Jungle"
The trials and tribulations of SEN transport
SEN Transport

The trials and tribulations of SEN transport

By Debs Aspland September 7, 2015 September 1, 2015

Yes, it’s that time of year again.  Our children are returning to school and we often get the joy of new transport providers.  Now, as I have said previously when …

Read more"The trials and tribulations of SEN transport"
When families ask for RESPECT, what do they mean?
Co-production, parenting

When families ask for RESPECT, what do they mean?

By Debs Aspland August 11, 2015 August 9, 2015

Parent carers often emphasise what they’d like to have more ‘respect’ from practitioners and service providers. But what does that actually mean? For some, that may mean referring to us …

Read more"When families ask for RESPECT, what do they mean?"
Ever thought about setting up your own Free School?
Guest Posts, It's about the school, ParentCarersCan

Ever thought about setting up your own Free School?

By Debs Aspland July 27, 2015 July 27, 2015

I am sure many of you, at one time or another, have considered setting up your own school.  Maybe you have had problems finding a school that could meet the …

Read more"Ever thought about setting up your own Free School?"
Changing to an EHC Plan?  Time frames are changing.
SEN Reforms, special needs

Changing to an EHC Plan? Time frames are changing.

By Debs Aspland July 14, 2015 July 14, 2015

A few weeks ago, we posted about what to expect when transferring from a Statement to an EHC Plan.  In the post, we discussed the confusion over whether there was …

Read more"Changing to an EHC Plan? Time frames are changing."
Living with Mr Worry – tips from a mum
Mental Health

Living with Mr Worry – tips from a mum

By Debs Aspland June 24, 2015 June 23, 2015

Like many families, we have several of the Mr Men in our home.  Mr Grumpy, who arrives with my son (and husband) when it’s time to wake up every morning; Mr …

Read more"Living with Mr Worry – tips from a mum"
It’s Learning Disability week, let’s talk about the negative people we meet in the LD world
learning disability, parenting

It’s Learning Disability week, let’s talk about the negative people we meet in the LD world

By Debs Aspland June 18, 2015 June 17, 2015

As you enter the Special Needs Jungle, you will come across many different types of people; the ones who will help, the ones who will hinder; the ones who make …

Read more"It’s Learning Disability week, let’s talk about the negative people we meet in the LD world"
SNJ Giveaway:  Making speech, language and communication a burning issue
Guest Posts, speech & language

SNJ Giveaway: Making speech, language and communication a burning issue

By Debs Aspland June 11, 2015 June 10, 2015

I am delighted to introduce today’s guest post (and giveaway) from Shona Crichton.  As a mum of a child with speech, language and communication needs, I love the work of …

Read more"SNJ Giveaway: Making speech, language and communication a burning issue"
Does safeguarding always protect our children?
Guest Posts, Health

Does safeguarding always protect our children?

By Debs Aspland May 27, 2015 June 29, 2015

Today’s guest post is from a mum currently camping out at the paediatric intensive care unit in Southampton.  Not a home any of us want but what if this was a visit …

Read more"Does safeguarding always protect our children?"
4000 and counting: Did you have a satisfactory EHC plan issued last year?
Education Health and Care Plan, SEN Reforms

4000 and counting: Did you have a satisfactory EHC plan issued last year?

By Debs Aspland May 26, 2015 May 26, 2015

Last week, the Department for Education released its Statistical First Release – Statements and EHC Plans. This statistical first release (SFR) publishes data from the annual SEN2 data return, which …

Read more"4000 and counting: Did you have a satisfactory EHC plan issued last year?"
What does Participation look like? A Circle or a Ladder?
SEN Reforms

What does Participation look like? A Circle or a Ladder?

By Debs Aspland April 17, 2015 April 17, 2015

As I sat scrolling through Twitter a few weeks ago, I came across a conversation that set me thinking. Kath Evans (Head of Patient Experience at NHS England) was asking …

Read more"What does Participation look like? A Circle or a Ladder?"

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