Text © BBC, 8 March 2019

 

Yoga in schools has ‘profound impact’ on behaviour

A project taking yoga classes into schools has helped children with social and emotional challenges, according to a head teacher.

The classes at Reedham Primary in Norfolk have been aimed at children with a range of special needs, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The yoga teachers concentrate on techniques that promote a sense of calm and the trial has said to have given the children the ability to manage behaviour and respond to stress, anxiety and depression.

Head Chris Edwards said: “We have seen how the practice of yoga has a profound impact on certain children. They appear to be calmer and more at peace with themselves and their surroundings.

“By being more in control of their feelings, their behaviour and attitudes towards learning and life in general have improved.”

[BBC Video …]

 

Text © SEND pathfinder

 

National Trial – Summary of Decisions

Please find below the published summaries of National Trial decisions issued by the First-tier Tribunal Special Educational Needs and Disability.

The aim is to issue updated summaries on a quarterly basis for the remaining duration of the National Trial; if you have any questions regarding the summary of decisions please direct these to SENDdeliverysupport@mottmac.com

Anonymised summary of decisions issued not subject to onward appeals covering the period of September 2018 – March 2019

NT Decisions Summary chart covering September 2018 – March 2019

 

Text about First Tier Tribunal in National Trial

Text © Disability News Service, 22 August 2019

Council’s planned care charge rises ‘could prove fatal’

 

Disability News Service: Leading disabled campaigners have warned that a council’s proposals to increase care charges will force them and others to quit their jobs and stop their volunteering work, and will push many others into poverty.

Read the full article here.

 

Image of two women in wheelchair

Text © The Guardian, 2 December 2019

Have you had a legal battle with your council over SEN funding?

 

The Guardian: Budget cuts to education and local authorities have seen funding for children with special educational needs fall dramatically in recent years.

Since 2015, funds for pupils with SEN have fallen by 17%, while those with less complex needs have been particularly affected.

Read the full article here.

 

SEN Funding

Text © The Guardian, 11 December 2019

I have a question: are you scared of people with learning disabilities like me?

 

My name is Pino and I want to have a conversation with you.

You don’t hear voices like mine in the news very much. You hear about people like me, but this could be the first time you have heard straight from a person with a learning disability.

I‘m part of Heart n Soul at The Hub, a research project at the Wellcome Collection in London, and we have some big questions to ask you. The project is led by Heart n Soul, the arts charity I co-founded for people with learning disabilities and autism.

I wasn’t really born with a disability. I have what you could call brain damage, or damage by doctors: an act of human error, that’s what happened to me. My family were told by doctors that I wouldn’t be able to do anything, and so I was overprotected.

Read the full article here.

 

Photo of man laughing against yellow background
Photograph © Heart n Soul

Text © Eye News, 2019

Improving eye care for children with learning difficulties: a view from SeeAbility

Marek P Karas from sightloss charity SeeAbility examines why children with a learning disability do not access the eye care they need and asks how the system needs to change.

Children with a learning disability are 28 times more likely than their peers to have a serious sight problem, but for many these problems may go undetected.

SeeAbility’s recent study examined the eyes of almost a thousand pupils in special schools in England. We found clear evidence of unmet need; almost half of the children reported no previous eye care, 119 children had an undiagnosed visual problem, and 122 children were prescribed spectacles for the first time. These findings reinforce similar worrying patterns found in other studies conducted in Wales and Scotland.

Read the full article: Improving eye care for children with learning difficulties: a view from SeeAbility

Child with glasses

Text © Motherhood: The Real Deal blog

When a mum is given 15 minutes to decide
to abort a Down’s baby

The other day, I received something in my inbox which I just couldn’t ignore. It read “Comedy actress, Sally Phillips, left stunned by story of mother given 15 minutes to decide if she wanted to abort one of her twins suspected of having  Down’s”.

Read the full article: motherhoodtherealdeal.com/parenthood/decide-abort-downs-baby/

Image of pregnant woman
© Motherhood: The real deal

Embracing Diversity

Text © Greenwich Parent Voice, 2019
Why did we start the Embracing Diversity Project?

GPV is not a religious organisation and we are neutral to all faiths and those without a faith.
We recognise that there are many barriers to parent engagement and have identified issues within disenfranchised BAME communities which prevent parents and carers taking control and living positively with their child’s disability. Our aim is to end this stigma.  Read more …

Greenwich Parent Voice filming

DAD – A film about autism and fatherhood

A documentary following the often unheard stories of fathers with children on the spectrum.
The film: When a child is diagnosed with autism, the few support systems available are often tailored towards mothers – but where does that leave Dad?

DAD is a documentary created to provide guidance, information, and support to fathers with children on the autism spectrum. Following the stories of twelve Aussie dads we see the challenges, triumphs, and the incredible bond between father and child.

Text © able magazine July/August 2018

Interview – Lee Ridley

Comedian, Lee Ridley was the standout performer on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent contest. He spoke with Able Magazine about television, ambition and laughter.

Read, listen or view the full interview: Interview – Lee Ridley

Text © parentinfo.org

The 6 apps and services that every parent should know about

It’s impossible to keep up with all the apps and services children use online but here’s Parent Info’s guide to some of the most popular.

Read the full article: parentinfo.org/article/the-6-apps-and-services-that-every-parent-should-know-about