C.E. Jottings

Outstanding Conductor posts at Paces 'Outstanding' School

Paces long association with the Peto Institute is a matter of pride. As is our part in the very first UK-wide summer schools, here in Sheffield, from 1992-94. As is the help received from Prof Kozma and Anikó Salga in setting up our own centre from 1996. As is our part in introducing conductive education to the English mainstream in 2009, when the Department for Education recognised Paces School as a Non-Maintained Special School; as is the formal opening of... Read more →

Even Councils have to comply with the Law, it seems. Council cuts to short breaks ruled "unlawful"

Following 39-year old Luke Davey's challenge against Oxfordshire Council's cut to his care package, comes news of two families success in challenging West Berkshire Councils cuts to short breaks for their children: "West Berkshire families win court battle over care cuts" In this latest case, the judge, Mrs Justice Laing, ruled the council's decision was "unlawful". In a written ruling, the Judge also said that the council's decision-making process was flawed because "members' attention was not drawn" adequately to relevant... Read more →

Is Conductive Education a social pedagogy?

A bit arcane, I know. And it's a question that's been asked before. But I've today been reading on a couple of websites descriptions of conductive education and also a description of social pedagogy (downloadable here). Try this: "Despite these differences in approach, what combines all pedagogies is the way of thinking, the philosophy, the attitude with which these different methods are used - and this is what makes practice conductive: as H.... (2003) points out, 'conductive education is not... Read more →

Maybe Action Cerebral Palsy and the Westminster Commission on Autism have common ground?

Are Action Cerebral Palsy (@action_cp) the Westminster Commission on Autism (@W_Autism_Comm) talking with each other? Judging by the findings of ACP's report ‘Variations in Care: an analysis of cerebral palsy provision’ launched at Westminster outlining the findings of a Freedom of Information (FOI) study into the provision of cerebral palsy services across England and the findings of the WCoA's report "A Spectrum of Obstacles - An Inquiry into Access to Healthcare for Autistic People", the two organisations may have much... Read more →

"Variations in Care: An analysis of cerebral palsy provision" in the UK. ActionCP

Not yet had chance to read the report myself, but a quick reminder if you need it that "Variations in Care: An analysis of cerebral palsy provision" is now available on the Action Cerebral Palsy website. (There's a link to the report in the caption below the picture). The report was launched at a parliamentary “drop in” event at Westminster on Wednesday 13th July hosted by Jamie Reed MP. The report follows Action Cerebral Palsy’s Freedom of Information requests on... Read more →

Two-footedness is a coachable skill - why we should keep telling the conductive education story

"Two-footedness, for example, is a coachable skill. The motor cortex and related brain areas adapt when players are encouraged to use both feet and to think in a symmetrical way." All Conductors, I hope and expect, will find nothing exceptional or exceptionable in that statement. So writes Matthew Syed, Sports Journalist of the Year, in The Times last week, in an article about English football's youth academies. What's interesting is what he writes next. "The head coach at one of... Read more →

Action Cerebral Palsy - new website

Action Cerebral Palsy's new website has just launched: clean, clear, crisp style. Nice one. The site launches with the news that Jamie Reed MP (Lab. MP for Copeland in Cumbria since 2005) will be hosting a parliamentary “drop in” event for ACP at Westminster on Wednesday 13th July. This event will highlight the results and recommendations from Action Cerebral Palsy’s recent Freedom of Information Report on the status of provision for children with cerebral palsy across the regions. The full... Read more →