C.E. Jottings

Labour's pre-manifesto, inclusion & the Children and Families Act

The Children and Families Act was widely reported to have broad cross-party support as it made its journey through Parliament. Somewhat surprising (and disappointing, if I read it correctly) then to see a major principle of the Act potentially undermined in Labour's pre-manifesto. The following comes from a recent weekly briefing prepared for Action Cerebral Palsy by the Whitehouse Consultancy, just before the Party confrence. The issue included the following: Labour publishes pre-manifesto The Labour Party has published (but not... Read more →

Paces Seminars 2014 Children & Families Act "Where Are We Now?"

Special Education reforms: opportunities for conductive education in the UK

Andrew Sutton left a Comment on my recent blog posting "Some SEN Statementing questions answered by Special Needs Jungle" in the form of a link to a posting on his own blog where, after leading in with a clip from Tania Tirraoro in the SNJ posting, Andrew ponders the coming "tsunami" of change, how real the change might be, what it might mean for conductive education in the UK and our readiness for it. For everyone in conductive education, Andrew... Read more →

Some SEN Statementing questions answered by Special Needs Jungle.

Best just go straight to Tania Tirraoro's post on Special Needs Jungle to read all the answers in full. Lots of good advice, too. Here are the questions, with some single word answers: Can I still apply for a statement now? Yes Is it better to wait for the new system? No Will my statemented child be moved to an EHCP right away after Sept 2014? No What’s this about a key worker and will we get one? Maybe. Will... Read more →

Paces on Radio Sheffield

It’s all good publicity for Paces. Yesterday morning, as a follow up to our recent Seminars on the Children and Families Bill, Graham Parker (Parker PR) had arranged for me to do a pre-recorded interview with Rony Robinson for later broadcast on Radio Sheffield yesterday morning, followed by Claire Dorer CEO of NASS (National Assoc. of Independent and Non-Maintained Special Schools). Clicking on this link will take you to the broadcast recording. Do not be put off by our item... Read more →

SEN Reform: Parents' Voice and Questionnaire responses

Copied as notes from Paces' first Seminar on the SEN reforms, an audience largely of parents and parent groups, and reported at the start of Paces' second seminar to an audience largely of professionals working in education, health and care; these are the messages to politicans and to those charged with implementing the reforms: 1. What we don’t want to lose is… Clear Timescales for dealing with assessments and preparing plans Parental Choice: allow the choice of those that want... Read more →

Reading the Lords in the Second Reading in the Lords 2 June

I am reading the debate in the House of Lords on the Second Reading of the Children and Families Bill (2 July) and am suddenly struck by how many Lords either declare an interest as having direct links with specific (disability) charities or speak having been briefed by large national charities. In one sense, that of being well-informed participants in the debate, this is self-evidently a good thing. But in another sense, I wonder if there are voices not being... Read more →

See SEN Seminar speakers live online today

We are hoping to have our speakers at this morning's seminar for parents live online from about 1000am. There are two possible links (i) via Paces website at www.paces-school.org.uk which last night was indeed live but not yet carrying the the real video of course (what's there is a dummy) or (ii) via http://johnpophamlive.co.uk/ Our speakers this morning are: 10.10 Debs Aspland of Special Needs Jungle 10.50 Sarah McKimm Principal Solicitor with IPSEA and 11.50 Janine Wigmore/Amanda Goulding from Calderdale... Read more →

IPSEA win vital clarification from DfE on Pathfinder EHC Plans

In some Pathfinder areas where Education, Health and Care Plans are being trialled and issued in place of Statements of Special Educational Needs, parents have expressed concern about loss of protection. This is because "until the new legislation comes into effect (expected in September 2014) plans do not have a statutory basis and cannot be appealed to the Tribunal". IPSEA have sought clarification on the protection afforded to parents who take part in the trials and DfE have published a... Read more →

Amendments to be moved in Grand Committee

That's an exciting subject line, isn't it? Ah well. Actually .... An amendment to the Children and Families Bill, proposed by Baroness Hughes of Stretford and Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, is particularly of interest to those of us who run very early years conductive education groups for parent and children. The new clause to be inserted after clause 78 (for the real 'keenies' who want to look it up) proposes that: NHS trusts should make arrangements to share with local... Read more →