Like I said in my last Spring (Half Term) 2014 update, I am now doing my 'SEN Updates' six times a year at the beginning of every term/half term as I have been told that this helps more people.
In this update you will find articles entitled:
As I always say, I know how busy everyone is, so please feel free to read just the sections that are of interest to you or read everything. The choice is always yours. IT’S ALMOST HERE… (THE NEW SEN FRAMEWORK) Typical, isn’t it? Soon after I wrote my Spring (Half-term) update, the Children and Families Bill received Royal Assent to become the Children and Families Act 2014 and is now finally law. However, it has still not yet been brought into force, although the plan seems to be to bring it in from 1 September 2014. And also typical, the day after I first drafted this update a couple of weeks ago, the Government then issued a new Revised SEN Code of Practice for consultation (it is only open until 6 May 2014) and this version now runs to 253 pages (the first one was already large at 174 pages!) If you have been reading my updates previously, you will know that the initial draft Code was heavily criticised following its consultation at the end of last year and has therefore now been rewritten/restructured. This new revised version still needs to be laid before/debated by both Houses of Parliament who need to approve it but I believe it is hoped that it can be issued in its final form in June 2014. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? (POST-16/POST-19 PROVISION) As I say, one of the main problems has always been that when young people reach the end of their secondary schooling, either at Year 11 (when they are 16), Year 13 (when they are 18) or even Year 14 (when they are 19 - if they are in a special school) they literally ‘fall off the cliff’. What I mean by this is that, if they do choose to stay in education, they are then expected to go to a Further Education institution but without the same support. They may even receive a ‘Learning Disabilities Assessment’ (‘LDA’) but that does not protect them legally as much as a ‘Statement’ does; or, worse still, they could end up in or out of the workplace without having really finished their ‘education’ first. As I have done what I do for nearly 20 years now, I have had the benefit/misfortune of having represented some children/young people right through from nursery age to when they eventually leave school. It saddens me greatly sometimes that all the good work that has been done with them over their years of schooling (which was often very hard fought for) is often lost soon after they leave school. They say that it can take years to create something positively but only a short time to destroy it negatively. How true that is... I truly feel for these young people/their families but have always been very limited about what I could do for them. I am therefore really pleased to say that, with the new SEN Framework now going up to 25, I am now also going to be advising and representing parents/young people over the age of 19 (don’t worry, I am still helping children/parents during their early years/primary/secondary schooling!). RECENT/FORTHCOMING SEN EVENTS The past few months have been very busy for SEN events as well as for me personally. First there was the Jordans Annual SEN Law and Practice Conference on 5 March 2014 where I spoke for the 10th time! (I am delighted to have already been booked for next year's conference on 5 March 2015!) This is widely regarded as the annual event for professionals concerned with SEN for parents/schools/LAs every year. We were provided there with more details about the new legislation and how the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal, amongst other things. There was then the Optimus conference on 11 March 2014 for SENCOs; the Kyra conference on 18 March 2014 for schools (where I gave a keynote speech); the Hesley Group's conference on 2 April 2014, aimed at all SEN professionals (where I chaired/spoke) and the Council for Disabled Children’s conference on 23 April 2014, aimed at anyone involved in SEN. The next few months are not going to be as busy. But there still is the Westminster Education Forum on ‘Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – Implementing the Children and Families Bill’ on 8 May 2014 in London, aimed at anyone involved in SEN. One of the keynote speakers will be the Chief Executive of from Natspec (the Association of National Specialist Colleges) and you will also hear from many other people (including me) with their views/concerns about the new SEN framework. There is also the (usually very well attended) ‘The Autism Show’ in London on 13/14 June and in Manchester on 27/28 June 2014. 'TURNING THEORY INTO PRACTICE' TRAINING (INCLUDING SCHOOL/COLLEGE VISITS) I have noticed during recent months/years, that almost every seminar/conference/training session or day being put on now seems to have been just been focused on talking about the 'theory' of what the law says or is supposed to happen with the new SEN framework. As one person put it to me a couple of months ago, “it is almost as though we seem to be ‘overdosing’ on the Children and Families Bill/Act!” I am as guilty as everyone, as I have been approached many times now to speak/provide training to many different education/SEN professionals/organisations/schools/LAs and talk about the new framework. But I feel that there now needs to be a shift of focus from the 'theory' to providing practical advice. I have therefore decided to try and redress this balance myself, by organising a series of training days between October and December 2014 at my offices. I have called them ‘Turning Theory into Practice’ and they are going to have sessions entitled:
which will cover things like:
and my favourite:
They will be CPD accredited (as I know that many people need to keep their hours up!) There will be five individual days but, although they will all have the same content, they will each be each aimed at a different group of people coming from a similar perspective/profession, such as:
I have done things in this way as I have also noticed in the past year that, although those already involved with SEN (either personally or professionally) already know a bit about things, there is now also a lot of interest in the forthcoming changes, not just from those people/professionals involved in Schools/‘Education’‘ but also from those people/professionals working in Colleges/FE establishments or 'Health’ and ‘Care’ sectors. Whilst those already involved in school-based education (including those in Local Authority ‘Education’ departments) have had over 10/20/30 years to get used to the system we currently have, the others are now coming into it comparatively fresh. (And even those who think they already know what to do, may not know what they really need to do!) I often now joke that it took many people 10-20 years to get used to what to do with our current system so I hope that my training will help as many people as possible to not make the same/similar mistakes. Although people are welcome to come to any of the training days as they will be similar, by aiming at different audiences, I hope there may also be some mutually helpful things shared between from like-minded individuals who are in similar circumstances. This new system is going to be a massive change for many people/organisations, so it is imperative that everyone knows what they need to do and quickly learns the best ways of avoiding/dealing with disputes as soon as possible. SCHOOL/COLLEGE VISITS I have been conscious over the past few years that many parents now also seek my advice on potential School/College placements for a child/young person with SEN. I do not normally recommend a placement unless I have seen it for myself personally so in recent years, I have tried to make the time to visit a number of schools. I have also seen that there are some parents or professionals around the country who want to attend my training but who cannot get to London for a number of reasons. A couple of months ago I was able to combine a visit to Kisimul school in Lincolnshire with my speaking at the Kyra conference the next day (my thanks to them both for making me feel so welcome). Kyra told me that it was easier for them to get me up from London rather than all their audience having to come down from Lincoln! This got me thinking. I now have had an idea that may help everyone (including me). I will now try and combine School/College visits and will offer to run a training session/day for parents/professionals at those I visit. Doing things in this way will hopefully be mutually beneficial to everyone and ultimately help more children/young people. "I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!" (INCLUDING JOIN MY TEAM) I always try to end my updates with a light-hearted look at things that have happened to me, or share something from my personal life, such as my personal challenges as a disabled person, especially during the past few years when I have been riding a modified trike across countries like Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Israel to raise money for charity. I have also been fortunate to win some professional/personal awards in recent years. Well, I am delighted to tell you that this year I have been named ‘Education Lawyer of the Year in England’ in the Corporate International Global Awards 2014 and, at the end of last year, Douglas Silas Solicitors were named ‘UK - Niche Law Firm of the Year (Education)’ in the ACQ Law Awards 2013 (yes I know I could have told you this before!). It always gives me great pleasure to know that I am helping people but to be recognised nationally/internationally for it is even better. Like I say, ‘I must be doing something right!’ With best wishes Douglas
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by Douglas Silas, specialist SEN Solicitor
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July 2017
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