C.E. Jottings

Still "No Voice"

It seems that Sheffield parents were a little premature in detecting a change of heart in respect of consultation, which I reported a couple of days ago. Claire sends the following update, which I copy in full. There is obviously considerable turmoil, but the strong sense that parents have that they are not being properly consulted clearly does not reflect well on the SEN Team. It does not take great wisdom to see that it would be a sensible course... Read more →

Just imagine IT.

Yesterday, I attended a seminar in Nottingham. The seminar is being hosted by the Department of Communities and Local Government. Their aim is the production of a Digital Equality Action Plan by Summer 2008, seeking to address the the lack of take up of digital technologies amongst certain groups. The intention to produce the Plan was mentioned in debate on Monday, this week, in the House of Lords. What has this got to do with Conductive Education? In my previous... Read more →

Xavier support

I have this week sent the following letter to Ms J Haddrell, Assistant Director General, Department of Education, Training & The Arts, Queensland, Australia. Whilst fully respecting the importance of the issues Andrew rightly raises and the contributions to the short but important debate that followed, I decided that some sort of action was required. I had an acknowledgement from the Northern Ireland Assembly re Buddy Bear, but haven't heard further news as to whether they won the financial backing... Read more →

Hopeful signs on consultation with parents in Sheffield

On Friday morning, I went along to a demonstration by parents of children with autism, who were giving voice to their concerns about lack of consultation on the part of Sheffield Children and Young People Directorate, especially the SEN team, in the implementation of wide-ranging changes in the schooling of children with special needs. I was especially keen to meet the organiser, Claire, with whom I had spoken on the telephone earlier in the week and whom I shall be... Read more →

Paces School - Ofsted Report: A welcome report.

Paces School was inspected by Ofsted on 14-15th May 2008, and the Inspector's Report published on 9th June 2008. The report has delighted everyone at Paces and is one in which every single member of the School's staff team should feel justifiably proud. Those of the team who have been with us since the start in 1996/7, who have "kept the faith" during those times when the odds seemed stacked against us, have cause to feel especially satisfied with the... Read more →

Dore pulls plug (2) or Dore has his plug pulled

Most people who maintain blogs, I suppose, do so in the hope that our postings might spark the odd thought in the occasional reader or, better yet, tempt the reader to leave a comment. In a welcome comment added to my posting Dore pulls the plug, (May 29th) Brainduck gently but firmly chides me on my admittedly rather loose use of the phrase 'dancing on Dore's grave' and corrects (as Brainduck sees it, to be more strictly accurate, my statement,... Read more →

Balls statement on Children's Plan. Commons 11 Dec 2007

As you do, I stumbled across a report on the ATL web site of a statement by Ed Balls ("Balls makes statement on the Children's Plan"). The original is no doubt in Hansard. Can anyone direct me to any online or other source for following up each of these points made, to check on progress? 1. Teacher Training £18 million would be available over the next three years to help train teachers to deal with special educational needs. (By the... Read more →

Re-visiting "Holland", re-thinking Parents

The personal story in the Guardian ("I half hoped that I might miscarry") of the Mum of a baby boy with Down's Syndrome, well illustrates the first trauma and guilt, followed by the later emotional contortions that some parents go through in having and loving a child with a disability. I say "some" quite deliberately, partly to leave the number unquantified and partly so that should your experience as a parent be different, well, that's OK, too. A number of... Read more →