RCN urges investment in specialist nurses for children with epilepsy

Commenting on today’s first national audit of epilepsy care for children and young people, The Royal College of Nursing expressed ‘profound concern’ that fewer than half of children with epilepsy had access to a specialist nurse.

RCN chief executive and general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: “Epilepsy is clearly being treated very well in many parts of the country, and specialist nurses have led the way in helping children and their families to manage epilepsy. However, it is a matter of profound concern to us that this is not the case everywhere. 

“The recommendation that all children have access to a specialist nurse is there for a reason – the nurse can offer an unparalleled combination of expert clinical advice alongside practical help for children and their families. 

“Too often, without the right advice many children face needless complications which affect not just their health but their education and other activities. 

"We would urge NHS organisations to give every child access to a specialist nurse to keep them as well as possible and to avoid unnecessary and expensive hospital admissions.”

Dyslexia group concerned by Baccalaureate plans

The British Dyslexia Association says plans revealed by the education secretary Michael Gove, for English Baccalaureate Certificate examinations to replace the current GCSE examinations in 2015, have the potential to have an adverse impact for dyslexic students.

The BDA is “extremely concerned” by the proposals which place more emphasis on the final examination and less on coursework. 

The BDA intends to lobby the government – not to discriminate against those with specific learning difficulties. 

The association said the proposals represent a “backwards leap in the examination process and will have an adverse effect on those with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.” 

Dr Kate Saunders the chief executive at the BDA said: “Dyslexia is most often characterised by a deficit in information processing and working memory, speed of working and difficulty accessing and recording written information.

“Dyslexic difficulties can be exacerbated in an examination context, due to stress. This can make it particularly difficult for dyslexic students to demonstrate their ability, knowledge and understanding through one off, timed examinations. 

“These plans, should they be implemented, will create an additional barrier for dyslexic students to continue on to higher education. Course work is generally a much fairer method of assessment and constitutes a reasonable adjustment for these students.” 

The BDA will also continue to urge the government to ensure all dyslexic students receive diagnostic assessments and specialist support in a timely manner, and that all teachers receive input about dyslexia on their initial teacher training courses. 

A petition has been launched for supporters to sign at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20674 

Dr Kate Saunders, chief executive, British Dyslexia Association

New role as director of education

The developers of an online video publishing platform, used by schools and universities has appointed Apple’s former head of education.

An expert in UK, EMEA and emerging education markets, Alan Greenberg is the new director of education at MediaCore, where he will manage and oversee the company’s education strategy, program and platform development and advocacy.

Alan Greenberg said: “MediaCore is bringing about an era of change in 21st Century teaching and learning which I’m really excited to be a part of. As a new member of the team, I relish the opportunity to help cultivate the paradigm shift in education, extending the role of teaching and learning beyond the classroom in a self-paced and personalised way.”

Nasen to study draft legislation on SEN reform

Nasen plans to spend time looking in detail at the draft legislation launched on 3 September reflecting the radical changes that were initially proposed in the SEND Green Paper published in March 2011.

Initially the association has welcomed the news that Sarah Teather the Minister of State for Children and Families, has asked the education select committee to carry out the pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft clauses. Nasen hopes the select committee will consult widely and during the next few weeks nasen said it will be seeking the views of its members to hopefully feed into that consultation process.

Lorraine Petersen, nasen’s chief executive said: “We need to ensure that all the work that is currently taking place, especially within the Pathfinders and the voluntary and community sector, is not wasted and will support the final legislation as it passes through parliament. We have a real opportunity to make sure that this legislation secures a better future for all children and young people.”

The initial points to highlight are:

· Legal definition of special educational needs remains the same

· Local authorities and clinical commissioning groups must make arrangements for jointly commissioning services for children with SEN in their area

·  Local authorities must produce their ‘local offer’ of available education, health and care services

·  Education, Health and Care Plans (0 – 25) replace statements of SEN

·  Section 139A assessment (Learning Difficulty Assessments) cease to apply and is replaced by a re-assessment /annual review of the EHC Plan

·  All of the provisions of the Bill will apply to all schools including Academies and Free Schools

·  Schools must still have an SEN Co-ordinator

·  Right to a mainstream education remains the same

·  Local authorities must prepare personal budget in relation to an EHC plan where a request has been made by the parent or young person

·  Compulsory requirement for a parent or young person to participate in mediation before they can appeal to the Tribunal

·  There will be a revised Code of Practice

Sense welcomes draft SEN reforms

Sense is looking forward to working with the government on its SEN reforms because John Dickinson-Lilley, the deputy head of public policy at the deafblind charity said the current statementing system is “extremely fraught and complex.” 

He said parents of deafblind children tell Sense they have to fight for up to two years to obtain a statement for their deafblind child.

Commenting on the draft legislation on the government’s draft SEN reforms John Dickinson-Lilley, said: “Sense welcomes the principles driving the draft clauses published today, however, we are deeply concerned that a legal obligation on health is not included in the proposed single plan.  

“We are calling on the government to ensure the single plan for children with special education needs and disabilities is legally enforceable on education, social care and health providers.

Using singing to understand serious issues

A  new resource which aims to get youngsters thinking – and singing about global issues – has been  launched in a joint venture by Sing Up and Oxfam.

The not-for-profit organisation that provides singing solutions for schools and Oxfam’s Youth & Schools team have joined forces to create the KS2 resource. 

The free, downloadable pack, available from 11 September,  includes teaching resources, activities and a song collection, which aims to offer a fun and expressive way for children to learn and think global poverty and food and farming across the world.

The resource has been designed to meet the recommendations of The National Plan for Music Education and the government’s call for every school to have a ‘singing strategy’. It supports the practice of singing as a classroom activity, enabling teachers to integrate music into the classroom in an inclusive way and ensuring every child sings and performs regularly.

 For more information on Sing Up see website http://www.singup.org/ and for more information on Oxfam visit: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/

Zainabu Jalloh (right) participates in singing activities during class, held in the newly renovated building at Early Learning School in West Point, Monrovia, Liberia. Aubrey Wade/Oxfam GB