A report described the ethical foundation on which the Bamford review (of mental health and learning disability in Northern Ireland) would base its proposals for service reform and modernization.
Source: Human Rights and Equality of Opportunity, Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (Northern Ireland) (mentalhealth.reviewteam@dhsspsni.gov.uk)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
A study aimed to identify: the ways in which fathers of a child with a learning disability contributed to family life; the problems fathers had experienced in using services or in receiving help in their caring role; and the needs and wishes of fathers in relation to developing father friendly support. There was a need for greater recognition of the important role that fathers played in caring for children with a learning disability, and for this to be reflected in the policy and practice of support to families.
Source: Christine Towers and Paul Swift, Recognising Fathers: Understanding the issues faced by fathers of children with a learning disability, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (020 7802 0300)
Links: Report | Summary | FPLD press release
Date: 2006-Nov
The Learning and Skills Council launched its first national strategy for learners in further education with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, covering the period 2006-07 to 2009-10. The strategy included £35 million additional investment to improve provision by 2007-08.
Source: Learning for Living and Work: Improving education and training opportunities for people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, Learning and Skills Council (0870 900 6800)
Links: Strategy | LSC press release
Date: 2006-Oct
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on special educational needs. It announced measures to improve training for teaching staff, designed to ensure that special educational needs was a national priority in schools.
Source: Government Response to the Education and Skills Committee Report: Special Educational Needs, Cm 6940, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report | DfES press release | NUT press release | NAS press release | BBC report | Children Now report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report said that there was an urgent need for more short breaks for children and adults with a learning disability and their families. More than half of families caring for relatives with learning difficulties were in 'physical and emotional crisis' because of a lack of short break services.
Source: Breaking Point: Families still need a break, Mencap (020 7454 0454)
Links: Report | Mencap press release | FPLD report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Sep
An article showed how time worked against parents with learning difficulties in the child protection system and Children Act proceedings. Pressure to avoid delay (resulting from the prevailing wisdom that delay harmed the interests of children) made it harder for parents with learning difficulties to meet the standards and expectations enforced by children s services and the courts.
Source: Tim Booth, David McConnell and Wendy Booth, 'Temporal discrimination and parents with learning difficulties in the child protection system', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
An article examined social inclusion from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities, including perceived barriers and remedies.
Source: Suzanne Abbott and Roy Mcconkey, 'The barriers to social inclusion as perceived by people with intellectual disabilities', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 10 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
An article examined the implications of the government's 'Valuing People' strategy for the provision of services to people with intellectual disabilities and dementia.
Source: Liz Forbat, 'An analysis of key principles in Valuing People: implications for supporting people with dementia', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 10 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
Improvements were recommended in the planning and funding of further education (post 16) for people with learning difficulties. But responses to a consultation expressed concern over proposals to stop funding by the Learning and Skills Council for the health and care elements of education packages.
Source: Through Inclusion to Excellence: An Analysis of the Responses, Learning and Skills Council (0870 900 6800)
Links: Report | LSC press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Aug
The healthcare inspectorate said that it would carry out a national audit and inspection programme in England of all National Health Service and independent providers of care to people with learning disabilities. This followed an inspection report which highlighted "unacceptable standards of care" in the Cornwall NHS trust.
Source: Press release 5 July 2006, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200)
Links: CHAI press release 1 | CHAI press release 2 | Cornwall report | Hansard (1) | Hansard (2) | DH press release | Mencap press release | FPLD press release | Skills for Care press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jul
The education inspectorate said that there was little difference between mainstream and special schools in the quality of provision for pupils in England with special educational needs. Pupils were equally likely to make good progress in both types of school: but they had the best chance of progressing in mainstream schools with special units. Pupils with social, emotional, and behavioural problems received "too little help too late".
Source: Inclusion: Does it Matter where Pupils are Taught?, HMI 2535, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report | DRC press release | NUT press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that the system of education for pupils with special needs in England was "not fit for purpose". It called for stronger government guidelines for local councils to end a "postcode lottery" of provision. Ministers should clarify their policy on whether to include special needs children in mainstream schools or educate them separately.
Source: Special Educational Needs, Third Report (Session 2005-06), HC 478, House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Mencap press release | NAHT press release | NUT press release | NASEN press release | BBC report | TES report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jul
There were 1.53 million pupils in England with special educational needs in January 2006 - 56,660 more than the year before, even though school rolls fell overall. More than 1 in 4 of all boys aged 7-10 had special needs.
Source: Special Educational Needs in England: January 2006, Statistical First Release 23/2006, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jun
A new book examined ways in which people with learning disabilities had become increasingly able, through 'self-advocacy' techniques, to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities.
Source: Duncan Mitchell (ed.), Exploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities: Testimonies of resistance, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jun
An article examined the 'Valuing People' programme (the government's policy framework for learning disability). It said that the programme contained contradictory elements that simultaneously supported and confronted social processes that created inequalities and oppression.
Source: Mark Burton and Carolyn Kagan, 'Decoding Valuing People', Disability & Society, Volume 21 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
An article evaluated individual plans for people with intellectual disabilities, for quality and effectiveness in improving quality of life. No significant difference was found in outcomes associated with having a higher-quality individual plan.
Source: Lynn Adams, Julie Beadle-Brown and Jim Mansell, 'Individual planning: an exploration of the link between quality of plan and quality of life', British Journal of Learning Disabilities, Volume 34 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill which provided for special educational needs statements to be scrapped, and replaced with profiles created by educational psychologists; for a national funding agency to be established to pay for the profiles; and for a special educational needs standing commission to be created in order to accredit the assessor of children with special educational needs, to hear appeals against profiles, and to offer advice to the funding agency about budgetary needs.
Source: Special Educational Needs Bill, John Bercow MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2006-Jun
A report said that children with exceptional requirements were being admitted in the name of inclusion into mainstream schools in England without the proper resources to meet their needs. Classroom staff went "beyond the call of duty" to help children with special educational needs: but it was widespread practice for teachers to give special needs pupils almost entirely into the care of teaching assistants, even though few had suitable training.
Source: John MacBeath, Maurice Galton, Susan Steward, Andrea MacBeath and Charlotte Page, The Costs of Inclusion: A study of inclusion policy and practice in English primary, secondary and special schools, National Union of Teachers (020 7388 6191)
Links: NUT press release | DRC press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
A report examined pain management for older people with learning difficulties who had dementia. There was a concerning level of unrecognized, and therefore untreated, pain.
Source: Diana Kerr, Colm Cunningham and Heather Wilkinson, Responding to the Pain Experiences of Older People with a Learning Difficulty and Dementia, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2006-May
A report said that children from certain ethnic minority groups encountered racist attitudes and differential treatment in school, with the result that they were more likely to be identified as having behavioural problems or special educational needs.
Source: Geoff Lindsay, Sulochini Pather and Steve Strand, Special Educational Needs and Ethnicity: Issues of over- and under-representation, Research Report 757, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-May
A report said that around half of parents with learning difficulties had their children taken into care. It highlighted the support needed to enable them and their children to stay together as a family.
Source: Beth Tarleton, Linda Ward and Joyce Howarth, Finding the Right Support? A review of issues and positive practice in supporting parents with learning difficulties and their children, Nora Fry Research Centre/University of Bristol (0117 923 8137)
Links: Report | NFRC press release | DRC press release | FPLD press release | Mencap press release | Children Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
An article examined the benefits of holiday breaks for adults with intellectual disabilities living with older carers.
Source: Roy McConkey and Joanne McCullough, 'Holiday breaks for adults with intellectual disabilities living with older carers', Journal of Social Work, Volume 6 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined the effect of schooling on the aspirations of young people designated as having mild learning difficulties or emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Source: Lorraine Casey, Peter Davies, Afroditi Kalambouka, Nick Nelson and Bill Boyle, 'The influence of schooling on the aspirations of young people with special educational needs', Educational Research, Volume 32 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
A report examined how to involve people with learning difficulties in research projects.
Source: Jackie Downer et al., Let Me In I m A Researcher! Getting involved in research, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined evidence that many people with intellectual disabilities had greater health needs, but also had restricted access to healthcare compared to the general population; and considered whether this constituted a form of abuse.
Source: Robert Jenkins and Rachel Davies, 'Neglect of people with intellectual disabilities: a failure to act?', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 10 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
The report was published of a national audit of support, services, and provision for children with low-incidence special educational needs. The study sought to gain a picture of how local authorities met the needs of the children concerned, to explore any gaps in provision, and to examined how gaps could be addressed.
Source: Peter Gray et al., National Audit of Support, Services and Provision for Children with Low Incidence Needs, Research Report 729, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | DfES press release
Date: 2006-Mar
An article examined how advocacy services for people with learning disabilities were evaluated by funders. Monitoring and review systems were not well known or extensively used. Although user involvement in evaluation was seen as appropriate, this was not well developed.
Source: Shereen Hussein, Joan Rapaport, Jill Manthorpe, Jo Moriarty and Jean Collins, 'Paying the piper and calling the tune? Commissioners evaluation of advocacy services for people with learning disabilities', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 10 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
A report said that regional partnerships had made a substantial and marked contribution to the government s agenda regarding provision for pupils with special educational needs.
Source: Felicity Fletcher-Campbell, Tamsin Chamberlain and Paula Smith, Evaluation of the Special Educational Needs Regional Partnerships, Research Report 724, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-Mar
A report evaluated services designed to ensure that parents and carers of children with special educational needs had access to information, advice and guidance on SEN matters, in order to support them in making informed decisions about their child's education and to reduce the need for formal disagreement resolution. It found that the services were valued by parents, and enhanced local SEN provision and services: but local authorities needed to play a much more pro-active role.
Source: Ruth Rogers et al., Evaluation of the Special Educational Needs Parent Partnership Services in England, Research Report 719, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-Feb
The healthcare inspectorate said that some black and minority-ethnic groups were three or more times more likely than average to be admitted as inpatients in mental health services.
Source: Count Me In 2008: Results of the 2008 national census of inpatients in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report | CHAI press release | Mind press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jan
Researchers evaluated the impact of legislation in Scotland (effective from August 2003) which introduced the presumption of mainstreaming in relation to pupils with special educational needs.
Source: Anne Pirrie, George Head and Paul Brna, Mainstreaming Pupils with Special Educational Needs: An evaluation, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Jan
A study found that 85 per cent of people on probation or parole supervision had either low educational attainment, learning difficulties, problems expressing themselves, or problems understanding what was being said to them.
Source: Literacy, Language and Speech Problems Amongst Individuals on Probation or Parole, National Association of Probation Officers (020 7223 4887)
Links: Report | NAPO press release
Date: 2006-Jan
A review examined the available evidence on progress and innovation in advocacy practice in relation to people with learning disabilities and high support needs.
Source: Annie Lawton, Personalisation and Learning Disabilities: A review of evidence on advocacy and its practice for people with learning disabilities and high support needs, Report 24, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jan
An article examined the recent policy shift towards individualized support and personalization for people with learning difficulties. It questioned the extent to which personalization could be sustained in the face of the scale and economic rationality of global markets, and proposed an alternative, more accountable, model of individualized support.
Source: Kathy Boxall, Steve Dowson and Peter Beresford, 'Selling individual budgets, choice and control: local and global influences on UK social care policy for people with learning difficulties', Policy & Politics, Volume 37 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jan