Yesterday I spoke on behalf of Family Voice Surrey at the Surrey County Council SEN pathfinder launch in Cobham. In attendance was Stephen Kingdom, a senior DfE official. I took the opportunity to include in my talk the widely-held opinion (outside of government circles, that is) that October is FAR too soon to try to start evaluating any pathfinder activity - most of which isn't even scheduled to start until September. What, exactly, will they be evaluating, I asked him, when I spoke to him afterwards. He said some government stuff about informing, gradual process etc etc, but I'm not sure he was listening, really. Let's face it, why should I be any different?
They hold the view that putting it off may mean it doesn't happen. I disagree. The genie's out of the bottle now but far, far better to have the 'unstoppable train' of reform pause a while to let reality catch up, than rush into something that'll end up running off the rails because it wasn't given enough time to lay secure tracks to a sustainable SEN future for the kids who need it.
So, enough train metaphors and on to the week's stories. My blogging pals have come up trumps this week with some great posts from A Boy with Aspergers, Chaos In Kent, An Aspie in the Family and Emma4Oacs. Lots of other great stuff too, take a look!
- Don't Hide it, Flaunt it: Our daughter was banned from Disney Ride-but to us she's not disabled
- Contact A Family: Why not take a look at the latest news from us ?
- SEN Magazine: School refusal: how can we help those with ASD attend school?
- A Boy with Asperger's: It’s the little steps that count the most
- DownSide Up Blog: Tips for SENCOs: A Parents' View
- Telegraph: Boys twice as likely to be diagnosed with special needs
- Children and young people: Supported internships for young people with SEN
- Aspie in the Family: A statement of SEN – a cause for celebration?
- Disability Scoop: More Than 1 In 4 Kids With Disabilities Abused
- Emma4oacs Blog: Britain & America V Pharmaceutical Companies- Fetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome FACS
- Information Daily: Education: Special needs children and disabled adults still getting raw deal from education, says Euopean report
- Limbless Association: Blue Badge Consultation - if you or your child has a blue badge, read this
- Chaos In Kent: Responsibility v Accountability - Great opinion blog
- Surrey & Hants News: Asperger's Team player rewarded: Son1 is Chairman's Player of the year; gets first sports back page in local paper
- CYP Now: Exploited girls commit crime to escape abusers, report reveals
- Special Needs Jungle: When the words move by themselves - all about Visual Stress - a mother's story
- CYP Now: Councils urged to sign up to runaways charter
- A Boy with Asperger's: My Daughter is on the SEN register – School never informed me
- CYP Now: 'Terrifying' welfare reforms will drive up care referrals, warns Munro
- DysNet: Theme Parks called on to clarify accessibility policy for people with limb differences
Tania is an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. She also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media.
Tania is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
- Ombudsman report says councils are “standing in the way of support” by failing to offer personal budgets during the EHCP process - November 24, 2023
- 10 reasons the Change Programme might fail, by experts from across the SEND sector - October 27, 2023
- For children with SEND and their parents, a compassionate teacher is key - October 20, 2023
