What’s wrong with Oak Academy’s specialist curriculum?
with Karen Wespieser, curriculum lead for specialist content at Oak Academy A couple of weeks ago a group of volunteer teachers, backed by the Department for Education, launched an online …
Category: Guest Posts
My trans-daughter, an unexpected gift
with Caroline Watson & Hannah Watson Today we have a subject that we haven’t covered before on SNJ: Having a child or adolescent who is transgender. It’s not a special …
Campaign: Family carers deserve at least minimum wage for their 24/7 work
When you care for a disabled child or adult, you are often not able to work full or even part-time, because of your caring duties. For this, you’re entitled to …
How has special education needs evolved in the 40 years since the Warnock Report?
with Professor Geoff Lindsay, Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR), University of Warwick Everyone in the SEND sector should recognise the significance of the 1978 report on special …
Steve Broach, Public Law Barrister on the Coronavirus Bill’s implications for disabled children
Tania’s note: Further to our post earlier today about Coronavirus and disabled children, the Government has today published its emergency Coronavirus Bill. The bill has sweeping measures aimed at enabling …
“Show me the evidence” Part 2: The questions parents should ask about SEND assessment and provision
With Dr Jane Hood, Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychologist and Educational Psychologist & Rob Webster, Associate Professor,Centre for Inclusive Education, UCL Institute of Education In part one of this blog, we explained …
“Show me the evidence” Part 1: Why parents are pivotal to driving evidence-based practice in SEND
With Dr Jane Hood, Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychologist and Educational Psychologist & Rob Webster, Associate Professor, Centre for Inclusive Education, UCL Institute of Education Tania’s note: Today we have the first …
Ofsted explains its new way of reporting on SEND provision in education
with Nick Whittaker, Specialist Adviser, SEND, Ofsted In one of my roles, I work alongside other SEND representatives on Ofsted’s SEND Stakeholder Advisory Group. As I spend a lot of …
What the Personal Wheelchair Budget means for disabled people in England
with Clare Dangerfield, Campaigning and Public Affairs Manager, Newlife charity If you or your child uses a wheelchair, you will know how expensive it can be to try to get …
Challenging opaque, illegal social care plans for disabled adults
With Belinda Schweher, CEO, social care legal charity CASCAIDr Anyone who’s tried to get social care help for a young adult, or to get care listed as “educational” support in …
Our LA left us feeling so abused we escaped to Scotland for a better life with our SEND son
with Harminder Samra, SEND parent Just over two years ago we ran an article by Harminder Samra, the mother of Kyle, who has specific learning difficulties (SpLD) but no behavioural …
Exemplary Practice: Why this special school is PROUD of its pupil voice
with Mary Isherwood OBE, Headteacher Camberwell Park Specialist Support School, Moston, Manchester There’s so much bad, stressful or just plain fake news around to drive us all crazy, it’s way …
What’s a PRU to you? Busting the myths about alternative provision
with David Mills, Executive Vice Principal, Phoenix Park Academy & Sevenhills Academy When a child is admitted to a pupil referral unit (PRU) the impression people often get is that …
When is a significant injustice to a disabled child, not a significant injustice?
with Claire Ryan Every week the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) publishes the latest set of decisions for complaints its investigated from parents against (some) schools and local …
Exemplary Practice: Creating a positive future of meaningful work for young people with SEND
with Matt Silver, Head Teacher, Shaftesbury High School, Harrow Recently I put out a call for positive stories of great practice in education, health and social care that we could …
The DfE wants to stop LAs filling SEND funding gaps
with Gillian Doherty, SEND Action Last week, the High Court found against campaign group, SEND Action in their judicial review into SEND funding against the Government. You can read about …
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 …
We won a legal point on unlawful exclusion and cleared my disabled son’s name
Adoptive parents expect their new child may deal with issues such as attachment, after living through prior traumatic circumstances, both pre and post-birth. It’s also not unusual for adopted children …
A free SEND legal advice clinic to guide you through the jungle
When you find yourself at the start – or even stuck in the middle – of trying to secure the support your child with special educational needs requires, it can …
The Government must act on legal ruling against discrimination of disabled children
With Jane Harris, Director of External Affairs at National Autistic Society Last year we covered a landmark legal ruling that was supposed to mean thousands of children with disabilities would …
