An inspector calls. Again. But are they improving SEND provision?
Matt Keer looks at the latest picture for the SEND inspections and re-visits. It iisn’t a pretty picture in many places
How the SENCO~Parent team helps children with SEND thrive
Tania’s note: Hannah Moloney was the author of a research study into the SENCo workload that I wrote about on SNJ here. She’s a current class SENCo, researcher, and sits …
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, …
Is Ofsted a “force for good” in improving the education of SEND learners?
Ofsted’s draft Education Inspection Framework and School Inspection Handbook are currently out for consultation. An Ofsted inspection is a critical moment in the life of any school and the framework …
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 …
The power of pacing: Managing energy with a rare disease or chronic illness
It’s Rare Disease Day, something we traditionally mark, with both Renata’s and my own family being affected by rare conditions and all that it brings. This year I want to …
Shane’s story of being autistic in school: ‘I was the odd one in the class’:
Tania’s note: My ASD youngest often complains to me about hearing only the parent voice and not the young person (I’m still waiting for their own contribution 😉 ). However, …
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 …
Keeping up with the politics of SEND
Oh it’s all going on in the world of politics isn’t it? Labour Party defections, Brexit shenanigans… it’s almost as if nothing else is going on in Parliament. And yet …
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 …
Phase Transfer deadline: what to do if your child’s EHCP isn’t finalised on time
The transfer deadline day for all settings except post-16, is fast approaching! If your child is transferring between phases of education, then the statutory deadline by when your local authority …
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 …
Coming to terms with your child’s hidden Special Educational Needs.
Not all Special Educational Needs are immediately obvious. Some are initially hidden, such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD. When parents approach me about their child with SEN of this kind, …
How can children be traumatised just by going to school?
In a post titled Send Children Being Traumatised By Not Getting Help Needed in School, Tania recently touched on the subject of SEN children becoming traumatised by the education system. She wrote about …
Getting Help with EHCPs: Be Careful Out There!
Just before Christmas, we took a look at some of the latest figures to come out of the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). Those figures shone light on …
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 …
SEND children are being “traumatised” by not getting the help they need in schools
Watching the parliament TV broadcasts of the SEN Inquiry has been an interesting affair, but yesterday’s brought tears of outrage to my eyes. More on that in a moment. It …
