C.E. Jottings

Caregivers under strain - in California. Seems familiar

This came into a Gmail account I use as a sort of secondary account. I'm not sure how I came to receive it. Perhaps in the long ago, I signed up for something and have forgotten about it. Anyhow, it's from California; there's a downloadable report, it seems, but apart from that I can't see any way of giving you a link to it. Untypically, therefore, I'm going to copy and paste the whole thing as it seems so relevant... Read more →

Duke of Gloucester opens new Paces School classrooms - loads of pictures

There are more pictures than I'm sure you've got time to look at to be found on the website of Chris Seaman, our photgrapher for the visit of HRH the Duke of Gloucester to Paces. (On Chris's website, click on 'Events', then on '62106 - HRH Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester official opening of Paces. View album') The picture of Sarah shaking hands with HRH is still my favourite. But then, I would, wouldn't I? (Previously on this visit... Read more →

Paces Special Free School - Yes, says DfE.

The news we'd been waiting for, when it came, came by email late yesterday afternoon. The first paragraph read: Dear Mr Perrin Free School Application: Paces 27 September 2011 I am pleased to inform you that after careful consideration, your application to establish a Special Free School in Sheffield will progress to the financial assessment stage of the Special Free Schools process. The rest of the evening I spent ringing and emailing around the great news, as you wil imagine.... Read more →

20 Pathfinders to test SEND Green Paper proposals

This taken from DfE website where you can find a list of the 20 selected local authorities: "The Government has announced today that 20 pathfinders, covering 31 local authorities and their Primary Care Trust (PCT) partners, will test out the main proposals in the SEN and disabilities Green Paper. The consultation on the SEN and disabilities Green Paper received 2,378 responses – 26 per cent of this was from parents and parents’ organisations. Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather, said: We’re proposing... Read more →

Sarah gets to shake hands with a Royal Duke

So proud of her! HRH the Duke of Gloucester visits Paces School. Read more →

Parent of a disabled child? Read this. Weep. Get angry. Cheer for Mom.

The sentence that gets me is "The teacher seems unconvinced of this notion." Just read it. And I defy you not to be moved. Caleigh's Corner Days 2-3 Thanks to Glenda Watson Hyatt (@GlendaWH) for pointing it out. Oh - and while I'm still angry after reading about Caleigh, don't ask me about Safeguarding Read more →

Duke of Gloucester opens new Paces School classrooms

"The Duke of Gloucester met with pupils, staff, Governors, Trustees and other guests today when he officially opened a new teaching block for Paces School. On unveiling the commemorative plaque the Dukes said of Paces: " It seems to me that what you do here at Paces either can't be done at all or can be done very well. The alternative education that you offer here is effective and is an example for others to follow." Chair of Trustees, John... Read more →

More "vkkdmmg gkr" or just "******!!"

Yesterday, Sarah's Mum, while waiting for two visitors who would be arriving with a questionnaire to be filled in so that Sarah might be put on the Sheffield Case Register, decided to while away the time by filling in the questionnaire from JobCentrePlus to assess Sarah's employability. Finding that quite enough pleasure for one morning, she decided to leave until another day filling in a third assessment of Sarah, that being a questionnaire for the Independent Living Funds. You can,... Read more →

Just a bit on the busy side

Managed to meet two deadlines today: got a bid in to Sheffield Rag for children's play space equipment, all a bit tight as the meeting with the supplier, and so getting costings, was only this morning which is why I had to ask Ray to deputise for me on Radio Sheffield with Rony Robinson (and that went well) before we met at a Management Team meeting with a crowded agenda, most of it pointing to how to actually grow a... Read more →

Mapping cuts to disability services – How is your council coping?

"Demos has created a Coping with the Cuts Index that measures how different local authorities are managing their social care and support budgets for children, adults and older people. "You can see how well your own council has done by selecting the name of your local authority in the drop down line above or by clicking on the map itself. "We could have ranked local authorities by their budget cuts, but we wanted to recognise those councils who are protecting... Read more →