The government published (following a review) an action plan to improve services for children and young people with speech, language, and communication needs.
Source: Better Communication: An action plan to improve services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260) and Department of Health
Links: Action plan | DCSF press release | Review report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report examined ways of ensuring the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs within mainstream schooling. Pupils with learning disabilities wanted 'safe areas' in school to counter their vulnerability between lessons and at break times. Problems could be avoided if young people were consulted about their treatment.
Source: Richard Byers, Jill Davies, Ann Fergusson and Claire Marvin, What About Us? Promoting emotional well-being and inclusion by working with young people with learning difficulties in schools and colleges, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (020 7802 0300)
Links: Report | FPLD press release | Cambridge University press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Oct
Researchers examined the implementation, delivery, and outcomes of disagreement resolution services for parents of children with special educational needs. Parents lacked awareness of the services, and in some instances local authority staff were not clear about their function. Schools were not always aware of or confident about how to access mediation services.
Source: Rosalind Tennant, Meg Callanan, Dawn Snape, Ian Palmer and Janet Read, Special Educational Needs Disagreement Resolution Services: National evaluation, Research Report RR054, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2008-Sep
Researchers examined the efficiency and effectiveness of use of resources in the provision of services for children and young people with speech, language, and communication difficulties. There was a lack of evidence for a 'best practice' or even 'good practice' model. Models of commissioning should be examined relative to local circumstances, and it was possible that more than one model might be effective and efficient depending on the specific factors for local authority and primary care trust partnerships.
Source: Geoff Lindsay et al., Effective and Efficient Use of Resources in Services for Children and Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Research Report RW053, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2008-Aug
A government-commissioned report said that up to 50 per cent of children in some areas were growing up with significant speech, language, and communication needs. Without the help these children required to develop important communication skills during their school lives, there was a heightened risk of lower educational attainment; behavioural problems; emotional and psychological difficulties; poor employment prospects; challenges to mental health; and, in some cases, a 'descent into criminality'.
Source: John Bercow MP, The Bercow Report: A review of services for children and young people (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Review press release | Hansard | DCSF press release | Scope press release | NCH press release | CDC press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Telegraph report (1) | Telegraph report (2) | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
The Special Educational Needs (Information) Act 2008 was given Royal assent. The Act (which began as a private member's Bill) amended the 1996 Education Act to compel the collation and publication of statistics on special education needs support.
Source: Special Educational Needs (Information) Act 2008, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | Explanatory notes | HOC research brief | EDCM press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
A think-tank report said that parental choice, rather than 'expert' opinion, should drive policy on the education of children with special needs. The school admissions process should be overhauled to ensure that schools were not able to deny access to SEN children. The government should waive the 'prohibitive' £2 million sponsorship fee for academies establishing specialist SEN units. Two sets of performance tables should be published for schools – one which included SEN pupils and one which excluded them.
Source: Lucy Wilkins, Learning the Hard Way: A strategy for special educational needs, Policy Exchange (020 7340 2650)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-May
A third reading was given to a private member's Bill designed to amend the 1996 Education Act to compel the collation and publication of statistics on special education needs support.
Source: Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill, Sharon Hodgson MP, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 16 May 2008, columns 1650-1702, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HOC research brief | BBC report
Date: 2008-May
A report summarized the aims, findings, conclusions, and recommendations of research projects into the funding of provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
Source: Sally Faraday, Mick Fletcher, Lynn Macqueen, Silvia Munoz and Lindsay Wharmby, Funding for Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities in School and Post-School Provision: An Integrated Approach, Learning and Skills Network (020 7297 9000)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Apr
A study found that 55 per cent of children who failed to reach the required level in standard assessment tests had dyslexia or specific learning difficulties.
Source: Chris Singleton, Screening for Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties: Interim report, Xtraordinary People (01344 381565)
Links: Report | XP press release | NUT press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Mar
The interim report of an official review (by John Bercow MP) called for an end to a 'postcode lottery' of treatment for children and young people in England with speech and language difficulties.
Source: Review of Services for Children and Young People (0-19) with Speech, Language and Communication Needs: Interim Report, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | DCSF press release | RCSLT press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Mar
A think-tank report called for an 'urgent systemic review' of the government's inclusion policy for children with special educational needs, particularly focusing on the failures of the 'School Action Plus scheme'. There should be a moratorium on the closure of special schools until a review of the statementing process had taken place.
Source: Charlotte Leslie and Chris Skidmore, SEN: The Truth About Inclusion, Bow Group (020 7431 6400)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Feb
A second reading was given to a private member's Bill designed to amend the 1996 Education Act to compel the collation and publication of statistics on special education needs support.
Source: Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill, Sharon Hodgson MP, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 1 February 2008, columns 558-626, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HOC research brief | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Feb
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on children with special educational needs. It said that there could be 'honestly held differences of view' about how best to improve provision for children with SEN and disabilities. It defended its decision to carry on implementing the policies and initiatives that were set in train by its long-term SEN policy document (Removing Barriers to Achievement) rather than consider a completely fresh approach.
Source: Special Educational Needs: Assessment and Funding: Government Response to the Tenth Report, Second Special Report (Session 2007-08), HC 298, House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2008-Feb
A think-tank report said that around 9,000 places at special schools had been lost since 1997; and that around 83 per cent of the increase in private school numbers over the same period were children with special educational needs.
Source: Charlotte Leslie and Chris Skidmore, SEN: The Truth About Inclusion, Bow Group (020 7431 6400)
Links: Report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Jan
