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Leeds criticised for failing children with special needs
Leeds Council has been criticised for failing in its care of three children with disabilities and special educational needs.
08 July 2011

The voluntary sector has a role in SEN assessments
The green paper on special educational needs and disability moots greater use of the voluntary sector. Una Summerson looks at how the sector sees its role changing in the future.
03 June 2011

New ADCS president wants more radical solutions to SEN
The new president of the Association of Director’s of Children’s Services has set out his ambition to help make the green paper on disabiilty and special educational needs "more radical".
05 April 2011

Minister unclear on social worker role with disabled children
Children and Families minister Sarah Teather (left) has admitted she does not know where social workers fit into the government's vision for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities.
11 March 2011

SEN Green Paper plans would require radical changes to law
The government needs to radically change the law if local authorities are to implement the agenda set out in its green paper on children with special education needs and disabilities, according to the Local Government Association.
09 March 2011

Confusion over social work role in disability
A single assessment process for children with disabilities and special educational needs will replace the current statementing system, a government green paper revealed today, children's minister Sarah Teather has announced.
09 March 2011

Lord Adonis pledges to protect special schools with new guidance
Councils looking to close special schools would have to demonstrate they had better provision in place for children with special educational needs, the government announced today.
30 November 2006

Dave Cassie interview: escort service for young offenders
Louise Hunt meets Dave Cassie who heads up a social worker-led escort service for young offenders that aims to make a difference in the lives of the troubled young people it works with
01 October 2010

Lambeth special education needs team to go in cuts package
molly.garboden@rbi.co.uk Lambeth council has scrapped its special education needs (SEN) team as part of a bid to cut £90m from its budget over the...
26 July 2010

Diary of a carer and retired social services manager
jan21backchat Please re-run competition copy Diary MONDAY Meet up with the mother of a woman with a learning disability and mental...
15 January 2010

News roundup: Inquiry into hanged girl, 8
Other headlines in today's papers include:- Ministers retreat on child database; Tories target state pension in battle to balance books; Foster mother 'was not told of risk to Down's syndrome children'.
15 September 2009

Inquiry into hanged girl, 8
Other headlines in today's papers include:- Ministers retreat on child database; Tories target state pension in battle to balance books; Foster mother 'was not told of risk to Down's syndrome children'.
15 September 2009

DCSF: Virtual heads boost attainment of children in care
Virtual school headteachers have improved the educational outcomes of children in care and are a valuable new role, an evaluation of the government pilot scheme has concluded.
28 August 2009

Balls: Ofsted will report on school special needs standards
Ofsted’s school inspectors will be required by law to report on the quality of education for children with special educational needs, children’s secretary Ed Balls said today.
03 August 2009

Letters: 30 April 2009
Readers views on commissioning services, the value of special schools, the role of step fathers, and the state of  domiciliary care Commissioning needs CQC scrutiny After years of reviewing pricing models and hearing that we must all make contingencies, I fear we have reduced fees to dangerously low levels. I suspect that there are hundreds of charities supplementing statutory organisations through fundraising or cross-charging. Many local authority social services departments are not meeting actual cost. If inadequate fee levels are paid, services will decline. Commissioners have a responsibility to purchase robust and sustainable services. If these fail, commissioners must take some responsibility. I believe that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) should have powers of inspection over local authority purchasing practices. It is often the contracted supplier that is sanctioned by the CQC but if the price is driven so low by purchase
27 April 2009

Readers views on special schools, role of the GSCC, care home residents access to NHS services, and sex education
Letters published in the 12 March issue of Community Care magazine Beware the inclusion extremists Doing what is superficially logical does not always produce the desired outcome. Further to the response of Simone Aspis ( Letters, 12 February , www.communitycare.co.uk/110684), she makes the flawed assumption that the needs of all disabled children and adults are the same. They are not. She assumes that full ratification will meet the needs of "the disabled". It will not and people with disabilities do not constitute a uniform homogenous group. The pragmatic proposal of the UK government to ratify the UN Disability Convention with certain reservations or opt-outs in order to maintain the right of parents to choose the special school or specialist care provision they need is welcomed by thousands of family carers.
09 March 2009

Review: Promoting Social Interaction for Individuals with Communicative Impairments
Promoting Social Interaction for Individuals with Communicative Impairments
04 March 2009

Children's secretary launches new vision for SEN to boost quality
Children's secretary Ed Balls today launched a "new and more ambitious vision" for children with special educational needs to boost expectations and outcomes.
11 December 2008

Dance changes troubled youths into achievers
High expectations are a key part of training at Dance United. The young offenders they help are encouraged to believe they can do better, but the path is tough. Rowenna Davis reports
04 December 2008

News round up: Teachers 'should not be charged' for sex with pupils
Other headlines in today's papers include:- Disabled people failed by courts and police; Independent schools 'failing special needs pupils'; Immigrant numbers may soon be capped; Child abuse victims allege insensitivity
06 October 2008