An influential committee of MPs has delivered a stinging rebuke to Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, after he refused to make any significant changes to the provision of special educational needs in England’s primary and secondary schools. He promised to improve training for teaching staff but ruled out changing the system of assessments and statements, which has been criticised. The move was in response to a report by the Commons Education Select committee in July which called for an overhaul of the system and breaking the link between the assessment of needs and funding. Barry Sheerman, chairman of the committee, said it was a ‘real missed opportunity’. ‘Despite clear evidence that the process is not working as it should, the Government relies on the argument that “no-one has a better alternative”. This is not acceptable. If the system is not working properly it is the Government’s duty to look for a better way forward.’
The Times, October 12, 2006

Campaigners fighting to save two school-based units catering for some of West Somerset’s most vulnerable children were this week forced to accept defeat. Richard Lindley, the independent adjudicator appointed to make the final decision on the future of the special educational needs units at Minehead First School and the West Somerset Community College, backed Somerset County Council’s cost-cutting closure proposals in the face of overwhelming opposition locally. Mr. Lindley said that with individual funding allocated to children with special educational needs both the school and the college were benefiting from ‘double funding’ which was why the council argued that for the sake of parity and the most efficient use of resources the separate funding for the units should be discontinued. He had been assured that other bases existed within the county which were funded from within school budgets. Transitional financial arrangements promised by the Council would allow the school and college to adjust their budgets and to enable the facilities and human resources to be preserved or refined.
West Somerset Free Press, October 13, 2006

Special needs units at five Gwent schools are threatened with closure in a council shake-up of services which is leaving parents outraged. Torfaen Council says the cash saved could be re-invested in a new learning support service team as well as boosting schools’ budgets. It says it is following guidelines which say local authorities should develop an ‘inclusion strategy’ to make sure more children are taught in mainstream education. A new support team would support staff and special needs pupils in mainstream classes across the borough if proposals go ahead.
South Wales Argus, October 13, 2006

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists warned yesterday that speech and language therapy is becoming a ‘soft target’ for NHS cuts. The college said that there is a worrying trend emerging among NHS trusts to cut services to save cash. Norfolk primary care trust has cut funding for children ‘needing essential help with communication’, it noted. A total of 130 children with disabilities in special schools and more than 300 children attending mainstream schools will be affected.
Morning Star, October 13, 2006

A Channel 4 News investigation has found that disabled children are being physically restrained in the classroom. And charities representing children with learning difficulties are now calling for changes in the government’s new Education Bill for England and Wales to put safeguards in place. There is growing concern at the way children with special needs are being educated in mainstream schools. Now charities want stronger guidance about how and when teachers can use force.
Channel 4 News (web), October 18, 2006

Work has begun on a new multi-million pound state-of-the-art school. The special needs school on the site of the former Meadway School in Tilehurst, will cost £19.1 million and replaces The Avenue School in Basingstoke Road, South Reading. The new school which will be fully equipped with classrooms and special needs facilities is due to be finished by September 2008.
Reading Evening Post, October 27, 2006

Violence or unruly behaviour by pupils has fuelled a rise in the number of exclusions from secondary schools. Teachers say violent conduct by youngsters in the classroom has increased as more of their colleagues have reported cases of sexual misconduct, bullying, damage, assaults against pupils or threatening behaviour towards adults and pupils. The number of exclusions from secondary schools has doubled in the past four years in Brighton and Hove. Louise Davies, a teacher at Falmer High School, Brighton, and branch secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said exclusion levels were far too high and children were being failed by the system. She blamed a Government policy of inclusion which had left children with special educational needs being taught in mainstream schools.
Argus, Brighton, October 31, 2006