Councils and health organisations in around a third of areas are failing to effectively support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), analysis by Ofsted and health watchdog...
Children’s mental healthcare
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a briefing setting out the support children with mental health needs receive from the NHS in England. Findings include: the overwhelming majority of NHS children’s...
Schools ‘failing to provide epilepsy support’
A number of schools across England are breaking the law because they do not provide support to children with epilepsy, a charity has warned. Carol Long, chief executive of Young Epilepsy said it is “deeply...
Why I secretly taped my disability assessment
Every month 60,000 ill and disabled people have their needs assessed for benefits. Some are so worried about the process that they are using mobile phones to secretly record those interviews, critics say. But using that...
A memo to our teachers and educationalists – why our children need positive portrayals of disability
The recent public debate over the decision to drop some American novels from the English GCSE syllabus has failed to pick up on something that lies at the heart of the books in question – both have powerful and...
SEN reform; for better or worse?
In the last twelve months there have been a number of developments in the review of legislation for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).The much-awaited Children and Families Bill has become...
