C.E. Jottings

If we can't do the maths on neurodevelopment problems, can we at least agree on the words?

So many words we use as if we had a common understanding what they mean: “inclusion” for instance, or “needs”; “special educational needs” or “learning disability”. A few months ago, we finally, after very many years, successfully, or so we thought, saw our adult daughter moved from the “physical disabilities team” to the “learning disabilities team”. Today, we learned that there was a flaw in the assessment and that she must be re-assessed – parents not invited, by the way.... Read more →

Can you “do the math” on neurodevelopmental problems? Or is it just me?

In a week in which SATs tests have been all the rage, literally, in social and mainstream media, a question about clarity in the expression of number might be deemed apposite. The following two paragraphs are from a report on the work of the Cerebra Foetal Research Project at the University of Barcelona. Pay attention to the numbers. Do they confuse you or is it just me? One in ten children has neurodevelopmental problems. It is estimated that about two... Read more →

"You are vindictive and you are unpleasant, and you are a nasty cow" - listen to this shocking message yourself

Yes, you did read the subject line correctly. This was a telephone message left today for Sara Ryan, the mother of Connor Sparrowhawk who died in the care of Southern Health. Beyond belief! You can read a posting on the JusticeforLB blog with a recording of the actual message and hear it for yourself. Here is a transcript: "Good morning, hello, hi, I believe this is a message for Dr Sara Ryan, um obviously on the media (not sure on... Read more →