'Frustration' as city is slowest in England for SEND assessments
A city council has been criticised for being the slowest in England to assess children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).In February, just 1% of assessments for Education, Health and Care Plans in Bristol were carried out within the official 20-week deadline.One Bristol mum, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I don't think they realise the impact it has on families. There are children who are regressing. There are children who, because they wait so long, end up on medication."Bristol City Council said it is struggling to deal with an increase in demand and was hiring more specialist staff to deal with the backlog.
The Bristol mum said she feels "frustrated" with the council as she continues to try and secure help for her son."It's just dysfunctional. There's a lack of communication," she added.Assessments for Education, Care and Health Plans should be carried out within 20 weeks but, nationally, councils only manage that in 50% of cases.In Bristol, the figure dropped to 1% in February and it is now edged up to 3%. Christine Townsend, the council's executive member for education, accepted that the city has performed poorly."It's absolutely not good enough," she said. Ms Townsend added that assessment requests have increased by 32%, compared with a national rise of 11%."That puts a huge number of people on our front door asking for an assessment," she added.Another challenge is a shortage of education psychologists, and the council is proactively recruiting specialist staff, she said.
Nationally, the demand for Send children has more than doubled in a decade.As a result, the amount councils need to spend on it has grown faster than the funding they receive from government.Councils have been allowed to overspend on special needs, but they have been warned that as things stand they could go bust.Education minister Stephen Morgan is responsible for Send provision and acknowledged that change is needed."We announced more money for Send in the Budget last year, we're rolling out a plan around special needs provision across schools, and we'll be announcing more in due course," he said.
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Welsh government urged to improve air quality
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There's a responsibility on everyone."New legislation was passed last year to clean up the air in Wales, but Ms Elgar said that should be just the start of the process."We now need to set targets in legislation so that everyone knows what we're aiming for," she said."That we've got ambition to reduce our air pollution and that leads to action across all government departments." Cardiff council said all monitoring locations in the city currently meet existing legal air quality objectives and all schools monitored by the local authority recorded concentrations "significantly less" than the Friends of the Earth Cymru research. The local authority added it welcomed the report as "Cardiff is very much aware of the health concerns from poor air quality and its potential impact on our children". A spokesperson for the council added: "It should be noted that the WHO guideline values are based solely based on scientific conclusions about public health aspects of air pollution. "The guidelines do not take into consideration the technical feasibility or the economic and social aspects of achieving these levels." Joseph Carter from Healthy Air Cymru, a coalition of partner organisations in Wales working to improve air quality, said air pollution was linked to asthma in children, with a growing number of people living with the condition in Wales. "Air pollution is a terrifying thing. The more time goes on, the more we learn about what it could cause," he said. Mr Carter said individuals and organisations needed to make real changes and called for legislation to prevent cars idling while waiting at the side of the road."We need to think about how we work, how we live and what society looks like here in Wales," he said. 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"This summer we will consult on our Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan, which has been developed in partnership with stakeholders. Through the plan we will support national communication campaigns, educational resources, and guidance, enabling positive change and ensuring people have the information they need to take action."Raising awareness of air pollution issues with children and young people has been a key consideration in the development of our draft plan."
The Independent
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- The Independent
Teacher survey reveals alarming level of drug use on school grounds
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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
I lost 8st on fat jabs but felt severely hungover & was constantly on the loo – but I'm happier than ever being skinny
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Eager to clap back at those who hail Mounjaro 'the easy way out', Kelsey explained: 'You don't know the years I spent trapped in a cycle of diets that didn't work. 'You don't know the pain of battling a body that felt like it was working against me because of PCOS.' Not only this, but Kelsey also claimed that prior to using Mounjaro, she was exhausted and faced 'quiet moments' where she 'nearly gave up.' She then claimed that she is 'not 'stealing' from anyone', and instead, is 'reclaiming' her health and 'showing up' for herself in a way she never thought she could. Now, Kelsey claimed that her ' mum tum ' is 'barely noticeable'. Not only this, but she stressed that Mounjaro 'changed' her life and now she feels 'happier than ever.' Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams claimed that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with 'life-threatening levels of obesity '. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons But despite this, the NHS warned: 'Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you. "These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.' I have been up since 5:30am feeling sick, really, really sick - back and forward to the toilet Kelsey In another clip, Kelsey got candid on her side effects after increasing her Mounjaro dose to 12.5mg. The mother explained that she had initially been 'so lucky' when it came to experiencing Mounjaro side effects, but after starting on the 12.5mg dose, things all changed. She admitted: 'Oh my goodness, I feel severely hungover, I feel like I've got the worst hangover. 'I feel so, so tired. I have been up since 5:30am feeling sick, really, really sick - back and forward to the toilet.' Kelsey explained that not only has she been dealing with diarrhoea and stomach cramps, but she also claimed that her body, particularly her feet, are 'so swollen.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. According to WebMD, swelling in the feet, ankles or legs can happen when using Mounjaro, especially if you are dehydrated, which can happen if you aren't drinking enough water or are dealing with diarrhoea. The pros also acknowledged that diarrhoea, as well as stomach pain, are just two of the 'most common side effects of Mounjaro'. Social media users react The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ kelseymounjaroandme, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 175,600 views. Despite her side effects, social media users were stunned by Kelsey's incredible weight loss and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. One person said: 'Oh my you look incredible!!' What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. Another added: 'Wow!! Incredible transformation.' Fatal consequences In addition to diarrhoea and stomach cramps, those debating whether to begin using Mounjaro should know that the jabs can have fatal consequences. The injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and are administered every seven days. They are also available to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over). The drugs can be prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber. But increasingly, we are seeing more and more people buying them through online pharmacies, without sufficient checks. Not only this, but figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed that fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK. Following the death of a man from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, who died after taking Mounjaro, his family are now calling for a probe into the jab's "potential to kill."
