There are about 80 adults in Derby with complex learning and/or physical disabilities whose parent/carers need respite care support ( short breaks). Derby City Council has a statutory responsibility to fund this […]
For the past 4 years I have been writing about how Derby City Council’s Special Education Needs (SEN) provision for children has fallen woefully below standard. How the development of children with […]
Funding for the education of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is a very sensitive issue but rarely attracts much popular attention. When it does, it is often misunderstood. Support […]
At the Executive Scrutiny Board last night ( 9th October), one of the many subjects on the agenda was “Improving Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Provision in Derby”. A comprehensive document which […]
Council Officers are proposing a reconfiguration of the service provision for Derby City Council Children’s Homes. This will be presented to Cabinet today and was subject to a cross-Party Executive Scrutiny Board […]
Tomorrow night, Council Officers will be presenting a report to the cross-Party Executive Scrutiny Board on “Transfers from Statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN) to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)” which […]
By law every child is entitled to an “appropriate education” regardless of ability. The Council, legally, has to take the necessary steps to provide schooling that recognises the needs of the individual […]
3.5 years ago, all Councils were mandated by Government to convert all old-style Special Educational Needs (SEN) Statements into a new, more comprehensive Education Heath and Care Plan (EHCP); this document is […]
In response to the last Derby News article on, “Council now misleading Department of Education on Special Needs Children Plans …”to avoid being in the headlines”, a parent from Sinfin contacted me, […]
The transfer of Statements to Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for Special Needs Children is a programme that has to be legally completed by 31 March 2018. It started in September […]
The Council’s many thousands of employees work throughout the year to keep the myriad of services operating, despite the shifting ground beneath them, the fluidity of leadership and the constant uncertainty of […]
For the Parents of the 1200+ children who require a statement of Special Educational Needs it is a daily grind to ensure that they get what they are entitled to from the […]
Last week, David Hall, the Head of Brackensdale Junior School made a presentation to parents and members of the community on Derby City Council’s proposed changes to the Vision for Special Needs […]
Over a 1000 children in Derby have Special Educational Needs (SEN). A document is compiled by Derby City Council which specifies the nature of their needs, and the provisions that will be […]
Open Letter to Cllr Russell – Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, copied to all other 50 Councillors Dear Cllr Russell You will recall that just after the Council Cabinet on 12th […]
Time is running out for Derby City Council on children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)! The Government gave all Local Authorities 3.5 years to convert existing SEN statements to the new, and […]
The Fun-abil8y project at the St James Centre, in Normanton, is one of the leading groups in Derby supporting young disabled people to “live life to the MAX”. I wrote previously that […]
Derby City Council do not make it easy for Parents with Special Educational Needs (SEN) children, and it is about to get a lot worse for those whose children are over 16. […]
Dear Cllr Banwait Being booed by a public gallery full of parents of children with special educational needs must be a first for a Leader of Derby City Council! These were not […]
The Derby Parent / Carer Forum ( an organisation led by, and for, parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the City – funded by Department of Education) ran a […]
