At a Commons Health Select Committee meeting, Tory MP David Congdon said there was a risk that some disabled children might not be able to be taught in mainstream schools because teachers would not administer medication. He said teachers were expected to administer health care to children but the National Association of Head Teachers was now advising members to show reluctance to do this. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health, John Bowis, said a children’s service plan was being drawn up which was intended to be helpful and build on the law by encouraging teachers to do more. He said most teachers were willing to play their part as long as they had proper back-up from school nurses. It was also helpful if parents gave their written consent.
Disability Now, August 1, 1996.
Feversham School, Newcastle, an independent school for children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties has decided to close in the face of falling support from cash-strapped councils in the region. Northern councils, who between them send 44 pupils aged six to 13 to the school, now have until the closure date in the New Year to find an alternative. The chair of the school governors, Prof. John Walker, said that local education authorities had changed their policies . ‘More councils who are suffering budget cuts are trying to deal with their children within their own areas, so the number of youngsters being referred to us has gone down.’ The school, which is backed by the mental health charity Young Minds, depends entirely on income from councils sending pupils to the school. A teachers’ spokesman said: ‘Unfortunately it is a sign of the times that there are kids who need this kind of attention but councils are unable to pay for it.’
Newcastle Upon Tyne Journal, August 9, 1996.
Hundreds of special needs pupils in mainstream schools are losing out on education because they need speech therapy, according to watchdog Southwark Community Health Council. Now 40 parents at Cherry Gardens School, Bermondsey, are considering legal moves to force Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority to improve the service.
South London Press, August 16, 1996.
Paralympic champion Tanni Grey says it took two years of fighting for her parents to get her into mainstream school. ‘It was unusual at the time but I wanted to go to a mainstream school. The way I saw it I didn’t need special education, I was just in a wheelchair’.
The Daily Telegraph, August 21, 1996.
Layna Gilbert’s string of nine B and C passes were cause for celebration among her teachers and school friends. While other students may have gained better grades, Layna’s impressive tally of GCSEs was achieved in the face of overwhelming odds. Layna suffers from sight, hearing and speech problems but was determined to stay in mainstream education. She completed her studies at Greencroft Comprehensive School in Stanley with the help of support staff member Alex Ellwood. Mrs. Ellwood said: ‘Layna has overcome a lot of difficulties. She has had a lot of encouragement from the whole school and I was confident she would do well. I’m delighted for her.’ Layna now plans to go to New College, Durham, to study for A levels in business studies, English language and media studies.
Darlington Northern Echo, August 23, 1966.
