Finding the racial minority voices in SEND
with Mala Thapar, parent to a teen with autism The word “inclusive” is often used in the SEND sector, and, just as often, it fails to materialise. For families from ethnic …
Category: Guest Posts
It’s not just SEND teacher training that’s needed. How we educate all children is broken
with Susan Lenihan, educator and parent of children with SEND After the recent BBC programme, Don’t Exclude Me, Joanne Lewis, parent of children with ADHD, wrote two articles, here and …
EOTAS: Education Otherwise Than At School. What is it, and can I get it?
with Nicole Lee, solicitor, SEN Legal Today’s article is from my colleague, Nicole Lee, a solicitor at SEN Legal who is an expert on Education Otherwise Than At School as …
Coproduction is an illusion for parents and SENCOs
with Professor Adam Boddison Many parents of children with SEND will have come across the term “Coproduction”. It means having an equal and active role in designing whatever it is …
BBC’s Don’t Exclude Me (pt 2): Resorting to restraint shows desperate need for better SEND training
with Joanne Lewis parent & ADHD Superpower founder Last week on SNJ, parent of autistic children and … Joanne Lewis wrote about her reactions to the first of the BBC’s …
Don’t Exclude Me: Shouldn’t SEND be the first thought?
The BBC programme, “Don’t Exclude Me” has caused something of a mixed reaction among parents of children with SEND. One of our readers, Joanne Lewis, who’s the mother of two …
Maths for Life – Book Review
A lot of children struggle to engage with maths taught in ‘traditional’ ways, especially those with additional needs. Karen McGuigan recognised this when she was working with her middle son …
The new “rights-based” Additional Learning Needs system in Wales
with Rukhsana Koser, Senior Solicitor, Education Lawyers, part of Langley Wellington Solicitors LLP While we usually talk on Special Needs Jungle about SEND education, this only applies to England. In …
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: What doctors and schools need to know
With Sandra Butcher, Chief Executive of The National Organisation for FASD and Brian Roberts, consultant and former Virtual School Head We assume that most women know that drinking alcohol in …
Six top tips for managing meltdown triggers for autistic pupils in school
with @Cherrylkd, Special school assistant headteacher Twitter seems to be a popular hangout for teachers, and I’m pleased to see many proudly specialising in SEND. @Cherrylkd is a popular SEND …
Invest More in Social Care Support for Disabled Children: A Mother’s Open Letter to the Chancellor
with Stephen Kingdom, Campaign Manager for the Disabled Children’s Partnership The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) is asking the public to add their names to a letter from parent carer and …
What schools need to know to support learners with hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
with Jane Green Ehlers Danlos syndrome comes in many guises and as such, it often takes a long time for people with this multi-symptomatic condition to be diagnosed. …
What does the Government’s new Autism Strategy actually mean for autistic children and young people?
With Tim Nicholls, Head of Policy at the National Autistic Society If you’re seeking an NHS diagnosis for autism for your child or yourself, you are still almost certain to …
Failure to specify and quantify SEND reports – what options do families have?
with Emily Chalke, caseworker at Duncan Lewis Solicitors During the special educational needs assessment that can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, expert advice and information must …
Will the Judicial Review Bill torpedo SEND claims or is it damp squib?
With Eduardo Reyes, Features Editor, The Law Society Gazette Judicial review is the process of asking a court to look at the decision of a public body – such as …
Dame Christine: I’d like to set the record straight
With Dame Christine Lenehan, Council for Disabled Children Now and again, someone says or writes something that’s so surprising, that’s the very opposite of what you’d expect them to say, …
Dying to be seen: Why is it so hard to get help from CAMHS? By Carrie Grant MBE
Tania’s note: Recently, broadcaster, Carrie Grant, quoted a tweet (shown below) from Dr Shan Hussein who had not had a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) referral accepted since …
The Cracks That Let the Light In – Book Giveaway
with Jessica Moxham Today we’re offering a free copy of a new book written by Jessica Moxham, a parent carer and architect who lives in South London with her husband …
Free course: Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in children with mental health difficulties
With Melanie Cross, Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists One of the most common elements of additional needs is speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). If a child also …
Exemplary Practice: How a Circle of Friends and other easy adjustments change lives for disabled children
On SNJ, we aim to highlight injustice and call out unlawful behaviour. But among the doom, there is also a lot of amazing practice going on in schools, actively supporting …