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 …
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The DfE replies: Accountability in SEND
This is our final instalment of the answers supplied by the Department for Education to your questions. We grouped your questions into related themes and over the past week we’ve …
Reforms, what reforms? Lancashire fails SEND children and mistreats parents
Just over a year ago, I wrote about the dreadful SEND inspection report for Surrey from Ofsted/CQC, as part of the SEND reforms accountability measures. Since then quite a number …
SNJ in 2017: Revealing the truth & explaining the facts about SEND
2017 has been, I’m sorry to say, a year of almost unrelenting misery for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Back in 2014, when the changed …
Parliament autism group calls for more autism training, speedier support, more understanding
A couple of months ago, accompanied by my younger child, I attended the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism in Westminster, as a witness. We were reassured that the evidence …
The SEND system is fractured, if not broken. Three new reports prove it.
SEND reports are like buses. Nothing for ages, then one, two and now three come along at once, this latest from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO). None …
The SNJ #GE2017 Manifesto for Special Educational Needs and Disability
You can’t have failed to notice that, here in the UK, we’re hurtling towards the snap general election called for next month. The political parties have been sallying forth with …
Who’s writing your child’s EHCP? Your outsourcing questions answered
About six months ago, SNJ began looking into something that local authorities have become increasingly keen on – outsourcing the producing of draft Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs) to …
Who is responsible for purchasing my son’s disability equipment?
My son is 16 and in last year of secondary. We have a temporary Physio covering maternity leave. My son has recently outgrown his standing frame and the Physio says, medically …
SEND reforms a botch job? Another report shows families are being failed
The SEND reforms are failing to meet the needs of autistic children, according to a new report from the National Autistic Society. The report, written by Catriona Moore, says far …
Why an unfortunate series of tweets must be a SEND game-changer
If you were browsing Twitter at the weekend, you may have happened upon a series of most startling and revealing tweets. If you were a bit late, you would most …
The real message the EHCP stats should give to the Ministers
Yesterday’s new SEND statistics reported worrying progress on SEND reform up to January 2016, amid soothing words from the Ministers in charge that the reforms are “boosting the life chances …
Edward Timpson and Jane Ellison: “Our reforms are boosting the life chances of children with SEND”
As parent carers we often measure our successes in the little victories we achieve on a day to day basis. They may not seem significant to some, but to us …
EHCP Journeys and SEND reviews
The Department for Education recently published some “user experience” research into the SEND reforms to help local areas with gathering family feedback. Ask Research produced a report, Mapping user experiences …
Why high-tech medical innovations just don’t match the harsh reality of health & disability funding
As soon as they became our neighbours, our mother sent us round to play with the kids next door. Vivacious twin girls, of no interest to me, and the boy. …
The DfE answers your Top 10 questions on the changes in SEN and disability education: Part 2
So, today we have part two of the answers to the Top 10 questions submitted by you, through SNJ, to the Department of Education. Part one, if you missed it, …
The DfE answers your Top 10 questions on the changes in SEN and disability education: Part 1
For our first post of 2016, it’s right back into the thick of it. Last year we asked you to submit your Top 10 questions for the DfE about your …
What parent carers told the Minister at his SEND reform stock-taking session
Earlier this week I attended a round-table event at the Department for Education hosted by the SEND Minister, Ed Timpson. Also in attendance were representatives from various Parent Carer Forums, …
Consultation on SEND Accountability launched. We look at the big picture
So finally, what we have been waiting for – the public consultation for setting up a system of accountability for the new(ish) Special Educational Needs and Disability system. Of course …
SEND reforms #1YearOn only 6% of deaf children see support improvement
We don’t like being negative at SNJ. We really want to be able to write about good practice, great resources and inspirational stories. But the Special Educational Needs and Disability …