It’s tempting to think that the Govt is quietly in favour of SEND children being educated at home by parents, out of sight and out of mind, while academy chains continue to cherry-pick the compliant and high-achieving pupils.
Except for all the changes in the Wellbeing and Schools bill to have LAs taking far more oversight of home ed, and being able to order children back into school.
And the obsession that ‘mainstream is best’ - despite the clear evidence that massive numbers of SEND children get pushed out in Y7/8.
(Like John, things just about worked for us through primary, down to the excellent form teachers who were obviously with the children almost every lesson)
I know mainstream secondary teachers, and the subject specialist mentality is just very different to the primary one - especially when their main concern is the improvement of GCSE grades.
My daughter (who is not ND) went from a primary school of 230 to a secondary setting where every year group was larger than that number. It’s hardly surprising that autistic children struggle, even before the extra stress of interacting with multiple teachers and moving around a huge building is taken into account. I think I’m right in saying that James Harris went to a middle school, and that might be a better system for some.
Are you also aware of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill John? More nails in coffins for SEND families if it goes through, various lawyers and peers sounding alarm bells about how it’s also an attack on democracy - and yet the press don’t seem to be picking up on it
Home Education is just one element of it. It’s handing over full control to local authorities in terms of EHCPs etc. LAs will be able to legally force SEND children who couldn’t cope in mainstream schools back into one, for example, and parents will be prosecuted for non-compliance. Too much to get into on here but I highly recommend looking up a specialist solicitor called Michael Charles who explains it all. Plus Lord Wei’s speech (and many others at recent Lords reading)…
Dartmoor needs to be re-wilded, bring the forests back, seems like a waste of land with natural life potential, though I get the serenity aspect, but more wildlife would be nice :)
Reading everything about the government proposals for SEND, it feels like looking at the postcode lottery for cancer outcomes and concluding that the fairest outcome is everyone getting one third of a course of chemo.
It’s tempting to think that the Govt is quietly in favour of SEND children being educated at home by parents, out of sight and out of mind, while academy chains continue to cherry-pick the compliant and high-achieving pupils.
Except for all the changes in the Wellbeing and Schools bill to have LAs taking far more oversight of home ed, and being able to order children back into school.
And the obsession that ‘mainstream is best’ - despite the clear evidence that massive numbers of SEND children get pushed out in Y7/8.
(Like John, things just about worked for us through primary, down to the excellent form teachers who were obviously with the children almost every lesson)
I know mainstream secondary teachers, and the subject specialist mentality is just very different to the primary one - especially when their main concern is the improvement of GCSE grades.
My daughter (who is not ND) went from a primary school of 230 to a secondary setting where every year group was larger than that number. It’s hardly surprising that autistic children struggle, even before the extra stress of interacting with multiple teachers and moving around a huge building is taken into account. I think I’m right in saying that James Harris went to a middle school, and that might be a better system for some.
Are you also aware of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill John? More nails in coffins for SEND families if it goes through, various lawyers and peers sounding alarm bells about how it’s also an attack on democracy - and yet the press don’t seem to be picking up on it
On home schooling, chiefly?
Home Education is just one element of it. It’s handing over full control to local authorities in terms of EHCPs etc. LAs will be able to legally force SEND children who couldn’t cope in mainstream schools back into one, for example, and parents will be prosecuted for non-compliance. Too much to get into on here but I highly recommend looking up a specialist solicitor called Michael Charles who explains it all. Plus Lord Wei’s speech (and many others at recent Lords reading)…
Dartmoor needs to be re-wilded, bring the forests back, seems like a waste of land with natural life potential, though I get the serenity aspect, but more wildlife would be nice :)
Reading everything about the government proposals for SEND, it feels like looking at the postcode lottery for cancer outcomes and concluding that the fairest outcome is everyone getting one third of a course of chemo.
Much cheaper but everyone dies.
I read the linked Christine Lenehan interview where she mentioned being ‘bold and brave’.
What the hell is brave about making decisions with zero personal consequence?
As if she ever suffers the sleepless nights and 3am internet searches of a SEN parent.
Great article - as always.
I notice that James in wearing an Abbey Road T Shirt in the photo on Dartmoor - his 2 passions combining?
Totally!