Taking a stand against the dog’s breakfast EHCPs of Oldham (part 1)
I’ve seen a fair few EHC Plans now – those of the pupils at Bright Futures School (BFS), those of children whose parents are seeking a place for them at BFS, …
Category: Columnists
Ten top tips to get a ‘good’ Education, Health and Care Plan for your child
Many of you will have seen Nadhim Zahawi MP – the current Children and Families Minister, talking on BBC Breakfast a couple of months ago about how the SEND …
EHCPs in 2018: Are we ‘bedded in’ yet?
It’s the second May Bank Holiday – and for sad people like me, that means a special treat. Because that’s when the Department for Education (DfE) unloads its annual statistical …
Stress and parenting: Don’t fall into the guilt trap
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week from 14-18 May. The Mental Health Foundation is a UK charity that promotes good mental health for everyone and it’s chosen to highlight stress as the …
Seeing the view from the other side of the parent-teacher divide
‘Teachers leave them kids alone’, the line from Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall, must resonate with some parents of children who are different, and who feel their children …
Ofsted/CQC inspections MUST become a permanent part of SEND. Here’s why.
We’re almost two years on from the biggest change to SEND accountability in a generation – the introduction of local area SEND service inspections, led by Ofsted and the Care …
Undiagnosed, but Dottie’s condition affects the whole family
6,000 children are born in the UK each year with a syndrome without a name – a genetic condition so rare that is likely to remain undiagnosed. Having an undiagnosed …
The National SEND Tribunal Trial: what does it mean for families?
The National Trial which extends the powers of the First-tier (SEND) Tribunal to make non-binding recommendations about the health and social care aspects of Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans …
21 Resources for Trisomy 21 on World Down Syndrome Day
Each year families, educators and charities come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March. The date was chosen to represent the three copies of chromosome 21 that …
LA Watch: Dodgy SEND policies, parent power and how to fight the cuts!
One of the joys of being a parent of a child with special educational needs is working out why schools and local authorities do things the way they do. Sometimes …
Partnering with clinicians to reverse Rett, my daughter’s rare disease
“Did you say ‘Retz Syndrome’? How do you spell it?” These were the questions I asked the neurologist who speculated in passing that this might be the explanation for why …
Refused an EHC assessment or unhappy with the plan? Read our next steps
“The Local Authority refused to assess my child for an EHC Needs Assessment,” “I have an unacceptable EHC Plan”and “The Local Authority has taken away the provision my son receives” …
Why boosting internet safety and promoting children’s mental health go hand in hand
It’s Children’s Mental Health Week, and the charity, Place2Be, have themed 2018 for children, young people and adults to celebrate their uniqueness. It’s all about #BeingOurselves. Place2Be provides emotional and …
Top tips for working on your child’s speech and language targets
The speech therapy process is very much a collaborative one. Even if your child is lucky enough to get regular speech therapy sessions, that’s still only half-an-hour or an hour …
How I learned to take the best advice (and ignore the rest) when raising my ADHD son
In my first post on top tips for parenting a child with challenging behaviours, I suggested that you: Seek support and be compassionate with yourself and that you work as …
Nancy’s tips for writing an EHCP parental statement
One of the things I get asked regularly, in my capacity of mother of an older child with Down’s syndrome, is how to write the parental statement part of the …
The £70 million council costs of fighting – and losing – against parents at the SEND Tribunal
We all know that money’s tight in public services, not least in providing for children with disabilities. It’s not surprising local authorities want to avoid shelling out lots of money …
A sensory being’s Christmas wish list
Recently I posted a Christmas Shopping List on Facebook that has done its best to go viral. As someone who shares a lot on social media I am often surprised …
Have a care for the carers working 100-hour weeks
Four years ago, we were on our metaphorical knees. The previous 18 months of getting a diagnosis, attending endless medical appointments, fighting for essential equipment and services and trying somehow …
Battle of The Bands: The rise of ‘banding’ for funding SEND
Is your child getting an EHCP? Have you talked to your school about SEND support recently? Has your LA tried to interest you in one of its awkwardly-named “My Plans”? …
