Alison Grimshaw’s Post

Important new research from Chance UK on the devastating impact when children are #excluded from primary school. Most of the children who join TCES schools and services have already been excluded on average three times from other provisions. In our 25 years of providing life-changing education for complex #neurodiverse children and young people aged 5 to 25 we have NEVER permanently excluded a child. We also don't fixed term exclude either. We never give up on a single pupil. #wenevergiveup #specialeducation #specialeducationalneeds #autism #SEND #specialschool https://lnkd.in/eRGCTM_h

97% of those excluded from primary school had a special educational need or disability. That's over 22,000 children aged six years and under. This exclusion creates a vicious cycle, leaving children struggling to acquire essential skills and secure employment without access to quality education and support, perpetuating economic disadvantage and reinforcing societal inequalities. Disabled people already experience profound poverty and destitution. As a result, nearly half of the poverty in the UK is directly linked to disability. This underscores the critical importance of early intervention and support systems to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially. Chance UK’s call to the government for additional funding for specialist support in primary schools is both urgent and necessary! https://buff.ly/3Jl9MZK #EndAbleism #Excluded #DisabilityInclusion

This article may be 5 years old which in today's fast-paced world is nearly an eternity, but it is more relevant than ever. Latest discussions about the dilapidated public school system in Germany at least touch on this matter: Schools are not anymore only an addition to families but more and more a surrogate for them. However, the vast majority of schools are not resourced, structured, nor equipped in any way to deal with this (new) predominant function. #families #parenting #education #studentwellbeing What do you think should be done?

On National Education and Sharing Day, we shed light on some of the work being done to address the concerning rise in primary school exclusions and suspensions.   Our article explores ideas and solutions to helping reduce both behavioural and emotional problems within schools: https://lnkd.in/eXRwr-bV #Education #Inclusion #EducationMatters #PositiveSolutions #InvestInEducation #NationalEducationandSharingDay

It's really heartening to see this teacher look at alternative approaches as we see more young pupils excluded from our schools. It's definitely not easy for teachers or schools to manage but imagine the damage this does to educational opportunities and self-esteem at just 6 years old. What we're doing now just isn't working for many young people with special educational needs. A report in April 24 by @ChanceUK showed that 97% of pupils excluded at that age had a special educational need or disability. The majority excluded at that age then don't go on to pass English and Maths GCSEs. These figures don't even include the children who 'fall out' of school because schools can't meet need and parents fear fights over persistent absence. It's definitely time for a rethink on the whole process. #SEND #autism #adhd #differentnotdeficit

The telling line in the statement from the council, is when they question children being placed in special schools who have 'educational attainment levels' that are the same as many children in mainstream... It is a mistaken, damaging and abelist view to assume that children with significant special educational needs can't and won't attain highly (or that academic achievement indicates that those needs are somehow less acute or deserving of support). Many children can and will achieve in settings where their needs are being met, and there may be many reasons why those children's needs are better met in a specialised setting. Academic achievement on its own is not a good way to measure, assess or provide for SEND needs. In #disabilitypride month I would like Kent County Council to reflect on why they are assuming that disabled children are not able to achieve academically or why they think that lack of a academic achievement is the only indicator of a child requiring a specialist setting https://lnkd.in/euQ9t_C3 #SEND #special #differentnotless Dan Harris FRSA

And this all feeds through to #FE - no #EHCP + no funding = no offer of a place on a further education course, again impacting on the learning of young people with #SEN. The #UK government need to acknowledge that these systems continue to #discriminate those entitled to further their educational attainment. #education #FE #schools #localauthorities #LA #youngpeople #SEN #DfE #AoC #familes #children #lifelonglearning

Here it is. The, as expected, soon to be replicated, conclusion of the SEND funding cuts… “A council battling to bring down its spending on special educational needs and disabilities provision has drawn up plans that set an expectation for mainstream secondary schools to educate pupils who are up to seven years behind age-related expectations of development… Documents seen by Tes setting out Kent County Council’s plan for “a continuum” for pupils with SEND have led to concerns that mainstream schools will not be able to meet the needs of some of the vulnerable children they would be expected to take. The local authority is also consulting on a plan to reclassify some of its special schools as part of a major overhaul of provision in the county. Concerns have been raised that the reforms are being primarily driven by a need to bring down spending because the council is signed up to a Safety Valve deal with the government to remove a high needs deficit of more than £140 million.” #SEND #HumanRights #EducationForAll #Equality

Interesting report from BBC on ‘missing’ children and SEN crisis. Some comments from those interviewed will resonate with parents. Some ‘solutions’ don’t always seem to reflect the complexity of the problem or the overall shortage in adequate provision for need - whether it’s support in mainstream schools or specialist places. Let’s hope Labour is really listening and acts in the best interests of children. https://lnkd.in/exyci5kv #education #SEN #autismparenting #adhdparenting #ukgovernment #specialneedsparenting #bbc #asd #audhd #dyslexia #dyscalculia #mentalhealthmatters #anxietyawareness #teaching #parenting #schools #ehcp #notfineinschool #homeeducating #students #autism #adhd

Please help save Oakfield Primary School. ♥️ Petition at the bottom ♥️ This is my youngest son Arthur. Autistic, with ADhD and dyslexia he can’t yet read and write. He was let down by his previous school and on a reduced timetable of just 2 hours a day, he is now thriving at his new School Oakfield Primary. He was set up to succeed by being put straight onto a full time timetable with after school club. Set in one of the poorest areas in the country this school not only supports many of our most socially deprived Island children but many neurodiverse pupils improving their outcomes and wellbeing. Owing to this their Ofsted can not be expected to be good, even though in reality it certainly is. SATs statistics are skewed to be low as every child who can not take part in them is counted in the figures, SAT tests are simply beyond pupils like Arthur. Also, the school they are proposing the children go to, to be taught in temporary classrooms has the same Ofsted reporting, if fact it has more areas of improvement than Oakfield. Arthur now settles at night, has less to none toiletting accidents and is happy again - simply priceless. Many like Arthur have attended one or even two schools by the age of 8 before they found solice at Oakfield. How would these vulnerable children cope with another move? Points raised by attendees included the disadvantages faced by children eligible for pupil premium funding as well as concerns over extended commutes and extra financial pressures on families already struggling with the cost of living. A teaching staff member said the school would have the capacity to welcome entire classes if it stayed open. The member added this would be better than having children in temporary classrooms and splitting up classes all over Ryde. Oakfield is also the only Church of England School in Ryde. We don’t have long to act, next Friday the proposal goes to local council cabinet before going to the Government. For Arthur, for all the other pupils and wonderful staff of this school that I attended myself please can you sign the below petition: https://lnkd.in/et4WG3qG #education #schoolclosure #ryde #isleofwight