Special Needs

STATEMENTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (UK)

A guide for parents.

As I have already stated on other pages within this web, I must tread a thin line between providing factual and useful information without plagiarising the work of others. For this reason I have created links which take you directly to areas of information and research that may be of interest.

Every year we are required to review Zoe's progress and comment appropriately. Our LEA supplies guidelines which you can see by clicking here.

UPDATE - November 2006 - We have just completed our parental report which has to be returned each year in readiness for the annual review of our daughter's statement. This review may provide some insight into Zoe's developmental issues and the challenges that she faces in her life and which are posed to both us as parents to to the school. You can read this report by clicking here.

UPDATE - October 2006 - A personal book recommendation form us.
Surviving the Special Educational Needs System: How to be a 'Velvet Bulldozer'. By Sandy Row. see this link here.

The Velvet Bulldozer is a book about our four children who have diagnoses that encompass the following problems: ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, ASD, Auditory Processing Disorder,  Attachment Disorder, Dyslexia (SLD),  Dyspraxia, Learning Difficulties (MLD), Semantic Pragmatic Disorder. If any of these issues affect you and your family, and you are experiencing difficulty accessing diagnosis and appropriate educational support and placement, then read the Velvet Bulldozer which will hopefully help you (even if you borrow it from the library!).

Advocacy for Education Service (NAS)

We provide advice on SEN inlcuding: getting extra help at school, admissions and exclusions, assessments and statementing and annual reviews, as well as specific support for parents appealing to SEN & Disability Tribunal.

Autism and education: the ongoing battle
(Experiences and outcomes of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal)

Advocacy for Education Service
Education Advice Line & Tribunal Support Scheme
0845 070 4002

The Salamanca Statement and framework for action Salamanca, Spain, 7-10 June 1994

More than 300 participants representing 92 governments 25 international organisations met in Salamanca, Spain, from 7 to 10 June 1994. This conference sets the background for the UK SEN policy.

Special Educational Needs, a guide for parents and carers

This detailed document (55 pages) details in clear terms how parents and carers can obtain help with the statement process. The document details how what a statement of special educational needs actually is, how it is obtained, managed, overseen and details the roles of parents and carers, teachers, your Local Education Authority (LEA) and how it is planned, managed and reviewed. This document also details the appeal procedure, tribunals and addresses.

UPDATE Jan 2005 - The link has been updated and improved, please click above to view this information.

Excellence for all children, Meeting Special Educational Needs

Published in October 1997, by the then Secretary of State for Education & Employment, the Rt Hon David Blunket MP.
This document examines the actual implementation of the statement therefore it is aimed primarily at teaching professionals and covers the following items:

Teachernet, (DFES) SEN identification and assessment

This link is mainly aimed at schools and details the procedural aspects of submitting a pupil for a statement. The teachernet site is very good indeed, and the kind lady in charge of the site has been very helpful with providing links and information for this site.

Teachernet, Autism resources.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:
ASD Guidance from the Autism Working Group, LEA policy examples, outreach studies and school curriculum Examples. This link provides a shortcut to the main Teachernet Autism resources.

NAS Autism in schools, crisis or challenge?

Published by the National Autistic Society (NAS) as their Autism Awareness Week 2002 official document. This report outlines the details of a survey conducted by the NAS into "The numbers of children with autism spectrum disorders and the provision available to them". The survey had 373 responses (30% uptake) and provides an insight into the opinions of teachers with respect to numbers (of autistics in their schools), inclusion issues, support issues and makes several recommendations.
This is a purely opinion based survey, however, this does provide an insight into feeling among teaching professionals with respect to autism.

Zoe's School

As a footnote, I would like to add, that our little Zoe is being taught by a team of dedicated, highly professional and emotionally supportive teachers and support assistants, all of which have made Zoe's early years highly productive and encouraging. For obvious reasons, the school cannot be named, but they know who they are, and on behalf of Nicki and myself, I would like to extend our utmost gratitude and respect.