Are EHCP Annual Reviews being unlawfully delayed by too-busy LAs?
When my sons had their first annual review after their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), it happened roughly on time. However, we never received the report after the review. …
Category: Guest Posts
Restrictive Interventions: We need to change the way we think
Elly Chapple is back with a hugely important topic. We’ve recently been hearing horror stories about children – many of them with SEND – being held in seclusion in school …
SEND National Crisis: Marching for our disabled children’s future
We’ve written many posts here on SNJ about the funding crisis. Renata and I also joined the NEU organised event at the back end of last year. And as the …
Parents warn Ofsted it’s missing chances to boost inclusion
A few weeks ago, we ran an open letter from a SEND parent, Claire Ryan, to Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman about how the new draft inspection framework was letting …
Creating a PDA coping system, after CAMHS’ strategies failed my son
We’re hearing much more in the last few years about Pathological Demand Avoidance, a condition on the autism spectrum, although many parents are still finding it difficult to get PDA …
Children with SEND and the emotional impact on parents
I recently came across a research article in the British Journal of Special Education entitled, Children with SEND and the emotional impact on parents by John Holland with Gabriella Pell, …
See Us, Hear Us: Supporting siblings of seriously ill children
As many parents who read our articles can tell you, when a child has a serious illness, their normal family life is hugely disrupted. Medical appointments, caring responsibilities and fitting …
Speech, Language and Communication: any improvement since #Bercow10YearsOn?
Speech, language and communication is fundamental to children’s development. Children with underdeveloped SLCN skills (which is more common that you might think) can neither learn or achieve as well as …
SEND parents tell Ofsted its new draft inspection framework lets vulnerable learners down
Parents of disabled children have voiced their anger over Ofsted’s new draft education Inspection Framework for England, that’s under consultation until April 5th 2019. The framework covers early years, maintained …
Ready for school? The importance of Early Years learning
The issue of children arriving at school without being able to speak in full sentences and lacking basic age-appropriate skills is a growing problem for schools. Many of these children …
The thorny issue of attendance awards and children with SEND
If your child has a SEND or a medical condition, it’s very likely they will need time out of school for appointments, illness, or just because some days, school isn’t …
The Deafblind world: The ‘Shoeness’ of a Shoe
Imagine a world you can neither see nor hear, yet you must find a way to grow and thrive within it, feeling your way, using the senses you do have …
Help get support right from the start for autistic children
Last week, I attended the first meeting for a new Reference Group “Right from the Start” established by the charity, Ambitious About Autism, the national charity for children and young people …
SEND parents of school refusers criminalised instead of supported
University researchers have discovered that most of the children of parents who’ve been fined or threatened with a fine over school “truancy”, have SEND or mental health issues. In England …
Using the Monitoring Officer to hold councils to account for housing, education and social services
If you’re wondering how you could to hold your local authority to account for not obeying the law or refusing to carry out its statutory duties, we have a post …
ATU Autism scandal: PDA Society calls for Rescue Mission. You can help
If you’ve been following the horrific stories of young people with autism who are locked away or who have died while “resident” in Assessment and Treatment Units or ATUs, you …
Will teachers strike over cuts to SEND and schools? Education union leaders tell us ‘Enough is enough’
Earlier this week an estimated one-thousand parents, teachers and teaching unions took part in a march and rally, through the cold November evening, to the Department for Education in London. …
Survey: Parents have lost confidence in their disabled children’s health and social care services
Parent-carers’ confidence in the quality of disabled children’s health and social care services is at an all-time low with almost half saying they knew of plans to cut social care …
Don’t mock my son’s talent just because it’s his autistic gift
We’re not usually mocked for something we’re particularly talented at. Yet today’s guest post, from SEND blogger, itmustbemum, is about just that. Why, she asks, do some people think it’s …
Disabled Person’s Trusts: When making a will is not enough
Before you have children, we have a reasonable expectation that they will grow up, leave home and live their own lives. But when your child has a disability that means their …
