C.E. Jottings

Talking about the education of children with cerebral palsy

The following article appears in Issue 37 Nov/Dec 2008 of SEN: The Journal for Special Needs. Comments on the issues raised in the article are most welcome. Talking about the Education of Children with Cerebral Palsy “The problem, Norman,” said the Education Officer (SEN), “is that we do not agree with your view of cerebral palsy, so we do not see that conductive education has anything to offer us.” She added that in making placements at schools, her LEA relied... Read more →

Carson Street, Perth WA - CE Campaign

Following my posting on 20th October about the campaign to secure continued State funding for the Conductive Education programme at Carson Street special school in Perth, Western Australia, I have had an email from fellow-blogger, Lightnur, whose child attends the school. Lightnur has sent copies of three sample letters: one for parents, one for other family members and one for friends. I have set up a wiki where you can find and copy these sample letters: just click here. She... Read more →

Introducing Snap Shots from Snap.com

I've set up a new tool on my blog called Snap Shots. It gives you visual previews of the links in my blog postings. Sometimes Snap Shots bring you the information you need, without your having to leave the blog; other times it lets you "look ahead," before deciding if you want to follow a link or not. Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the upper right corner of the Snap Shot... Read more →

Campaign to Expand Cerebral Palsy Program

Lightnur carries a report from ABC Television in Western Australia (in transcript) entitled "Campaign to Expand Cerebral Palsy Program" at Carson Street School. Much is familiar territory: "controversial learning program"; "lobbying for months"; "lack of resources"; "families remain concerned about the program's long-term future"; "the program's become so popular .... it now can't meet demand". So there's no doubt what parents think. Another familiar line is provided by Judy Hogben of the Centre for Cerebral Palsy who, in a classic... Read more →

Conductive Education has much to thank Brian & Brenda for

How much does conductive education world-wide depend upon volunteers? There's no way of knowing, of course. But every now and then, we have chance to celebrate someone special. Paces recently celebrated with Brian and Brenda Edley, and all the rest of their volunteer team. Brian and Brenda were inspired as volunteers by the children at Paces School. Brian came in 1997 to do a bit of painting, when the Campus first opened. He and Brenda stayed for 11 years. Tonight... Read more →

New Home for The Conductive Web

The Conductive Web has a new home. It can now be found at www.netvibes.com/conductiveweb Please click on the link and join us there to continue to find all your favourite conductive education blogs in one place. Don't forget to bookmark or tag the new site. The move from Pageflakes has become necessary because of the difficulties experienced with feeds from blogs posted on Blogger. The Pageflakes site will not be maintained. However, I will keep an eye on it just... Read more →

SEN Policy - local authorities' statutory duty

My previous posting asked for help in clarifying whether a local authority in England had a statutory duty to have a Policy for children with special educational needs. The question seemed to have been answered by someone who contacted me by email, and whose information I myself posted as a Comment. The duty to publish an SEN policy seemed, therefore, to be clear, set out in Statutory Instrument 2001 No.2218. The Special Needs (Provision of Information by Local Education Authorities)... Read more →