Don't know if any of you have watched much of the news over last couple of weeks or even paid attention to these articles that have been in the news.
BBC NEWS | Education | Special needs education 'not fit'
To any parent i know then this one came as no real surprise :o( It is very much a postcode lottery...The policy of inclusion is a wonderful idea in THEORY...In practice well it seems to fail more often than succeed...A vast amount of local authorities took inclusion to mean they could shove everyone into mainstream schools regardless and close the special needs schools...Like erm DUH!!! what a no brainer...NOT every child can manage to go to mainstream...So if you close the SEN school where do they go??? Into a school where they cannot cope and where they will be miserable, stressed and feel even more different than they already are :o( Actually i better not start or i will be writing here for the rest of the day LOL...Inclusion is NOT just about education, it is what it says inclusion, being accepted in a place just like everyone else...Inclusion HAS to include specific training not just for teachers but for all members of staff in a school and the pupils also...Sadly we're still living in a world where anyone percieved as *different* is looked upon with scepticism and often ignored as being *not my problem*
Then this report came out this week by OFSTED
BBC NEWS | Education | Special needs schooling compared
School inspectors looked at G's school when he was in either 1st or 2nd year so that would 3-4 years ago...Also the NAS inspected the base...Both sets said that it was excellent and would serve as a best role model for similar across the whole UK...So here we are 3-4 years down the line and that particular type of provision is still extremely patchy...Parents have known for years that it is the quality of provision that is severely lacking and a massive postcode lottery...I have experienced that myself with M...The SEN school he went to first was rubbish...Ok some bits of it were good enuff but he ended up trying to run away, refusing to go to school in the morning and being an absolute nightmare about it all in general apart from drama and music...At the time the dep head for primary in that school kept saying it must be a problem at home!!!...Erm DUH how a problem at home when it was school he didn't want to be in LOL...Well when i eventually managed to get him moved the difference in space of 2-3 weeks was astounding...Then after one term i finally realised and knew what the problem was with the other school...He was BORED...They didn't think he was that intelligent and had him on same work books for months and in some cases years...He used to HATE maths with a passion...As i am not exactly a lover of maths and am quite thick at maths i just thought he was like me...I was so so wrong, he loves maths and as you know is going to mainstream classes in maths after the summer hols...Just because someone has a special need/disability does not mean that they are THICK, STUPID, DAFT, LOW INTELLIGENCE...Oh that is another presumption that makes inclusion fail btw.
And finally for my wee rant this morning this was in the news yesterday
BBC NEWS | Health | Autism 'more common than thought'
G was diagnosed in 1993 and M in 1997...Autism was very uncommon when G was diagnosed...I knew one person who had a child who was autistic and it was due to that i knew that G was...Ok i got to know a lot more and by the time M was diagnosed it didn't seem that uncommon but it was...Just the people i was associating with mainly had children on the spectrum...However over the last 3-4 years i know loads and loads of people who have had a diagnosis for a child of theirs...I do think this report is a bit out of date in a way...The figures i knew about for scotland 3 years ago was 1 in 89 on the spectrum...Parents don't get listened to, they struggle to get diagnosis, some for years and i do mean years...6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years is a ridiculous length of time to wait to get an actual diagnosis...Hopefully though this report from yesterday will make it easier to get diagnosis, provision will improve vastly, forms to fill in may be changed for ASD specific versions, we won't be treated like lepers and oh yeah PIGS MIGHT FLY too...I can't help being sceptical as although i have never had much problems getting things that i want and need (am good at *bullying*) i know that i am in about 1% of parents who are that lucky.
Lastly a video link from the BBC website on autism...I know that when G was diagnosed it was around 1 in 2000...He has been one of the incredibly lucky ones...He's had extremely good education...Education specific to his needs at any particluar stage of his life...To everyone who knew him as a toddler and young child he has changed beyond belief and far beyond my wildest dreams ever...M is now getting education specific to his needs and is doing the same...I would love it if every child who has autism/aspergers in this country had the same opportunities as my 2 have had.
Okies that's all a bit heavy for a saturday morning but rant over and catch up laters on other stuff as i have washing to hang out and i have to go into town.
Toodle pip tc
4 comments:
Heavy maybe but none the less usefull information to those of us who know little enough about it ,and should our voices be requiered we can speak with some confidence ...Jan xx
Just dropping in friend. Tammy
Hi Caff, I did hear that on the news and I knew you wouldn`t be very impressed by it. I also read the second item about the increase in autism, apparently they are going to look at pregnant women`s diets?? Have a good weekend. :o)
Sandra xxxx
Thanks for this entry it has taught me a lot of things I didn't know ~ Lets just hope Caff you get your wish and every child who has autism/aspergers in this country has the same opportunities as your two have had. ~ Ally
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