Book Review: Diary of a Dyslexic School Kid*
This is a sponsored post by JKP Publishing. However, the review of Diary of a Dyslexic School Kid is honestly given by SNJ’s Marguerite Haye. Written from the perspective of …
Category: Columnists
RDI and me: How this amazing autism programme has helped me thrive
Having had a couple of SNJ articles out now, I recognised I was running into a theme of throwing up frequent bad news and depressing stories without counterbalancing it with …
Measure for measure: how do we judge the quality of a life?
The Bake-Off contestants race to uncover today’s technical challenge. In their haste, one contender reads the instruction to add two teaspoons of salt as two tablespoons and the resulting cake …
For our disabled children, being brave is a daily necessity
The theme for the 2020 Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, from the Place2Be charity is ‘Find your Brave’. As parents of disabled children, we don’t need to look far to find …
Racial discrimination and SEND: Why was I accused of harm?
Every child with SEND has a right to access the best provision to help them reach their potential. Their families must be treated with respect and dignity. Far too often, …
SEND with Daulby: Unseen teaching tweaks that make all the difference
Tania’s note: Today’s we start a new series of posts from expert educator, Jules Daulby called, appropriately enough, SEND with Daulby. Jules has returned to teaching English and will be …
How the 2020 SENCO Surveys findings could really improve SEND provision nationally
Three years ago, when I first imagined what a SENCO Survey might achieve, I spent a lot of time wondering if it was even possible, and what the immediate impact …
Relentlessly unlawful LA decisions are damaging children and forcing the SEND Tribunal into crisis
Last Friday, whilst people were still getting their heads around the General Election, SNJ’s relentless data hoover sucked in a new set of figures – fresh information on the Special …
EHCP Annual Review: Our stats show there’s nothing annual about them…
After months of form-filling, evidence gathering, panel meetings and bureaucratic slow-dancing, your child or young person now has an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP). With a bit of luck, …
Review: Starving the Depression Gremlin – a CBT workbook
Depression is an increasingly common issue in children and adolescents. Today we’re reviewing Starving the Depression Gremlin – a cognitive behavioural therapy workbook on managing depression for young people by …
The right to a suitable education: what the law says
Why do I have to go to school to learn? Many children and young people find school or college inaccessible for a variety of reasons. It can be difficult enough …
Safeguarding and children with SEND: What parents need to know
with the Safe Schools Alliance “All organisations that work with or come into contact with children should have safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that every child, regardless of their …
It’s NOT your fault: An autistic teen’s comprehensive guide to surviving being bullied
I’m still just 17 and I’ve been bullied at school for most of my life. If you’re autistic or have a learning difference it’s very likely that you’ve been bullied too. …
Why the next government must make investing in new teachers of the deaf a priority
with Ian Noon of the National Deaf Children’s Society I’ve got two deaf sons. They’re brighter than I am. They’re more focused than I am. They work harder in the …
SEND Inquiry report Part 2: No more reviews, it’s time to ACT
This is the second part in our SEND Inquiry report coverage. See Part one from Matt Keer here It has been a long time coming, but the Education Select Committee’s …
SEND Inquiry Report: Education committee blasts DfE, LAs and Ofsted over multiple SEND failures
Eighteen months ago, the House of Commons Education Select Committee launched a formal inquiry into SEND. The Committee (made up of 11 MPs) published its report today (report links at the …
#WMHD: Preventing suicide in young people
‘You will be too much for some people – Those aren’t your people’ Meme It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay 2019 and the focus this year is Suicide Prevention. Suicide devastates families and the …
Jenna’s 10, has missed two years of school, and is campaigning for SEND inclusion
I’d like to introduce you today to 10-year-old Jenna, who has anxiety and ADHD and has missed two years of school. She is still waiting for her council to find …
Are Access Arrangements given unfairly? Three reasons why we need a review of the system
Access Arrangements are a way to level the playing field in exams when someone has a disability or special educational need. Common support mechanisms are extra time or a reader, …
I chose mental health over a prestigious Sixth-Form, that refused to recognise my autism
A lesson I recently learned is that sometimes admitting defeat is the best decision you can make. This time last year, I was elated about starting at a state sixth-form …
