It's a year since my extraordinary daughter died unexpectedly. Re-sharing her obituary because it matters so much that the world understands who children w/ SEND actually are - especially right now when their right to the support they need in education is at risk. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
"A Labour Government headed by a human rights lawyer wants to protect councils that fail to meet their legal responsibilities to some of the nation’s most vulnerable young people. It wants to do so by ending the statutory right of parents to challenge wrongful decisions made by faceless officials."
Russian literature
Environmental diplomacy
War and welfare
The New Deal
Juvenile delinquency
Exactly - it demonstrates that the system isn't working because local authorities routinely make incorrect decisions (ie decisions that don't comply with the law, which are then overturned at appeal)
image shows multi-racial hands clasping each other in the cente, and the logos of the NEU and SOCR over the top
NEW POST: The @neunion.bsky.social announces support for our #SaveOurChildrensRights campaign to protect SEND legal rights! www.specialneedsjungle.com/n...
#Disability #SENDSky @johnharris1969.bsky.social
If true, this is a huge change in appeal rights...
Latest from me, and one of the most important pieces on Special Needs I've written so far: "In fifteen years of political journalism, I don’t think I have seen anything quite like this: a mad game of briefing, counter-briefing and official stonewalling."
maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
Bad faith = advisers leaking stuff that ministers don't deny, ministers presiding over 'conversations' in which parents aren't allowed to ask questions and a never-ending narrative of over-diagnosis and demanding parents.
This is wonderfully idealistic. But forgive us for being circumspect based on decades of experience of the law not being followed, kids being failed and families being traumatised.
Massively important news: the biggest teaching union backs Save Our Children's Rights
Few would deny that the SEND system needs an overhaul, but only giving EHCPs to pupils in special schools isn’t the answer, says IPSEA’s @catrionamoore.bsky.social
Message to government: make the education system work for children & young people with SEND - but don't take away their legal rights to support. Our rights-based framework for disabled children is something we should be proud of, not a target for cuts. www.ipsea.org.uk/blog/defendi...
Latest from me: on the grim, terrible prospect of Labour's cuts to disability benefits, and the wider cultural moment of "overdiagnosis"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Happy to have contributed to this evisceration of another bad-faith piece of 'research' funded by local authorities desperate to be relieved of their legal duties to disabled children and young people.
I wrote another thing about the whole thing.
"She proved how wonderful life can be if you are brave." I am fully undone by this beautiful piece of writing about a beautiful girl. Those of us who walk a similar path will feel every word of it.
Powerful testimony at the Education Select Committee this morning on why and how the system for supporting children & young people with SEND isn't working. I think this session may have shone more light on "why are there so many requests for EHC plans" than anyone has ever managed before.
Tickets are available if you fancy being in the audience for this discussion. Looking forward to participating. www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtour...
👏
Why would anyone advertise so openly that they've done no research on the thing they're writing about.
Cartoon: lots of people with microphones: THE REST IS EX-POLITICS RSJ "Welcome to the show hosted by all the recent ex-MPs who've heard there's money in podcasts"
Private Eye.
I’ve never been a government adviser and probably never will, but I found this handy as someone who does work in public policy. Understanding this curious breed and their challenges helps anyone working with them. Recommended
