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 →

Charting a way through the Children and Families Act 2014

A great, simple way to understand aspects of the C&F Act 2014 visually has been produced by the always excellent Special Needs Jungle (in passing - Debs Aspland of SNJ spoke at Paces Seminars last year) in a joint project with the Department for Education. Four flow-charts have been produced, each covering a different aspect of the legislation. You can read what Tania Tirraoro, who created the charts, has to say about each of them, via the links: The new... Read more →

Local Government Ombudsman: call for fair deal for children with SEN

Has systemic failure become part of the SEN system itself? Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said: ”Children with SEN, and their families, must be treated fairly by councils so they receive the support to which they are entitled. It is not acceptable when pupils miss out on crucial education, are unlawfully excluded or have their education opportunities adversely affected. “A common phrase we hear from families when resolving a dispute about SEN is that it feels like a constant... Read more →

Special Needs Jungle, IPSEA challenge Minister on existing rights protection in SEN Reforms

"If you read IPSEA’s very thorough analysis of the proposed legislation and Code of Practice, you will find a long, and quite frightening, list of existing protections which are not mentioned in the proposed reforms". So says Special Needs Jungle - and more besides. At last week's local authorities SEN conference, Edward Timpson, Minister responsible for reforms apparently had this to say: "“Aside from promoting much greater collaboration, they (the reforms) keep existing protections in the system and extend them... Read more →

Where the Devil lurks: the detail beneath the Children and Families Bill

Yesterday, as reported over on Special Needs Jungle (SNJ), DfE published the consultation draft Code of Practice SNJ also reported yesterday that DfE has published " the draft regulations that accompany the actual Bill – these are the ones referred to as 'the devil is in the detail'. Regulations are available for the Local Offer, SEN (SENCO), remaining in special school/post 16 without EHC Plan, Assessment and Planning, Personal Budgets, SEN Appeal and SEN Mediation amongst others." I shall say... 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 →

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 →

"I urge all of you to start preparing now." SEN Reform. Seminars. Sheffield. September

"I urge all of you to start preparing now." So said Children's Minister, Edward Timpson, speaking on 4th July 2013 to the Association of Directors of Children's Services. Are you ready for the "biggest reforms in 30 years to help disabled children and those with special educational needs". Or like most of us, are you still in the dark? > What do you know about the Children and Families Bill now before Parliament? > What has been learned from the... Read more →

How many pupils will be entitled to an Education, Health and Care Plan?

Following a lead from @scope on Twitter, "Excellent article from @jreynoldsMPon the battles families with disabled children face & the current #ChildrensBill", I find that in a knowledgable article for Progress Online, "Transforming the Lives of Disabled Children", Jonathan Reynolds MP repeats a statistic I have read elsewhere: "it is estimated that only 13 per cent of disabled children or those with SEN will actually be entitled to [an Education, Health and Care Plan]." Where does this figure come from?... Read more →