Latest news with #specialeducation
BBC News
19 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Twelve Somerset Schools are to run units for children with SEND
Twelve units for special education needs children are planned for mainstream schools in Somerset - with the first six opening in the next academic move is tipped to save the cash-strapped local authority £17m over the next five years. Councillor Heather Shearer, Somerset Council's lead member for Children, Families and Education, said the change will allow children to learn in their communities, with their friends, without travelling long distances to be said: "We have a number of children who don't have appropriate places to be going to, and we need to make sure, we have as many places as the children need." The first six areas to get a SEN unit will be schools in Taunton, Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Watchet, Crewkerne and one will have around six to eight young people in a class with a social, emotional or mental health need. It will also support children who have a neurological, speech or language Shearer said the ability of the teacher will be the same as one working in a special school and teaching assistants will also provide support. New staff will receive training, and an induction programme and support structures are being put into place, drawing on expertise from local special schools and specialists."The approach is right," Ms Shearer said. "We want to get it in place as quickly as possible, so people can benefit from it, but the care has to go into the choice of the children and also the teachers." The roll out of special units will also ensure more children have access to specialist provision. Ms Shearer said that a number of children do not have appropriate is partly because in the past four years there has been a 124 percent increase in the number of young people in Somerset who need an Education, Health and Care Plan (ECHP).This entitles them to specialist provision. But Somerset Council's state-maintained special schools are full, and the local authority does not have the regulatory powers or the money to open new ones. In the past year more than 500 children and young people with ECHPs in Somerset have been educated in independent settings, which are much more expensive than state-maintained a council paper in March, officers said the financial pressure on the local authority to deliver special provision was "one of the contributory factors behind its decision to declare a financial emergency".But Ms Shearer denied that the primary reason for introducing the change was financial. She said: "Getting children into the right provision closer to home will be cheaper, but the best thing is that it will be better for them. They don't then get stuck in a school miles and miles away from home, possibly not with their friends." She added there is also a real benefit for everyone if a child's special educational needs are identified and supported early on. Ruth Hobbs, the CEO of the Somerset Parent Carer Forum, said she is supportive of the plans to have SEN units in mainstream said: "I think if we get the right children into the settings, it will work really well for them and their families."It's about identifying the right children now to make sure that their needs are being met within those settings and ensuring that those settings are inclusive - not just the actual setting being a specialist setting, but also the wider community in a school." Brookside Academy - a mainstream school in Street - already has specialist provision and operates in a similar way to the model being rolled Brian Walton said: "My staff are as trained as special schools. I think our building is no different in lots of ways, but there may be some very bespoke provisions that we don't have." But he said he also has the benefit of mainstream teachers that can teach the curriculum to a very high level. "It's just as good for my mainstream children, that they are working alongside other children that have challenges in life. Actually that's better for society as a whole," he said. Somerset Council said 12 schools in the county will get a SEN unit in the next academic studies are also under way for another 12 which include schools in these areas: Minehead, Yeovil, Wincanton, Bruton, Cheddar, Wellington, Ilminster and Frome.
ABC News
a day ago
- Health
- ABC News
Queensland's building six new special schools, but there's debate on whether they're needed
Jasmin Fawcett Clarke felt heartbroken sending her son to a school she believed didn't want him there. Thorn, who was diagnosed with autism at seven years old, spent more time suspended than in the classroom. Whenever Ms Fawcett Clarke's phone rang, a wave of anxiety would hit. Emergency services would often be called to the mainstream school when Thorn became distressed. The mum of three said it was a "pretty dark" time for the family. She felt pressured to enrol him into a "special school" for students with a disability. It would mean Thorn would not be at his local state school with his sister. "Even financially, to be able to go to two different schools, it just wouldn't have worked," she said. During this time Thorn asked his mum, "Why is my brain bad?". But it all changed last year when a new teacher at his school started making small adjustments in the classroom. "It's just phenomenal to be able to just send him to school and know that, even if it's a bad day, the police aren't going to get called," Ms Fawcett Clarke said. However, the fate for other students with a disability has Ms Fawcett Clarke worried. The disability royal commissioners were split on the issue of special schools in their final report handed down in 2023. Since then, state governments have announced plans to spend more money than ever on special education. Queensland's government last month said it would build six new special schools. Kathy Cologon from All Means All, a nationwide multi-stakeholder alliance for inclusive education, said there had been a movement towards more segregated settings across Australia. She said there were also new special units and classes being set up within mainstream schools. "It is very disappointing, and extremely concerning, that we are seeing this trend towards segregation," Dr Cologon, an associate professor at Charles Sturt University, said. She said the split view of the disability royal commissioners had "legitimised having opinions" on special schools. "It is important to note that there was no recommendation from the royal commission suggesting that we needed more segregated settings,' Dr Cologon said. All six commissioners of the disability royal commission agreed the current system couldn't remain, and that segregation in the schooling of students with disability should end. Half of the commissioners recommended phasing out special schools by 2051. The three other commissioners did not agree — instead, they suggested a stronger relationship be formed between mainstream and special schools. The Queensland government announced the state's largest ever investment in special schools in history as part of its $21.9 billion education budget for 2025-26. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said there had been a "clear demand for the schools". He said the six new schools were set to be built in areas "they're needed the most", in the state's south-east, and would bring a combined enrolment potential of 800 students. "We needed to make sure that we have adequate planning and access for parents who have their students that need to go to special schools," he said. Mr Langbroek said the government's response to the recommendations made by the disability royal commission had not changed. He said the government "certainly" wasn't going to close special schools. Queensland Association of Special Education Leaders president, Andrew Thompson, said the new schools would help ease enrolment pressures. He said some schools had seen their enrolments almost double in the last five years. Mr Thompson, who has worked in the sector for more than three decades, said he had many parents at his previous school who were very concerned that special schools would close. The former special school principal said the royal commission's split decision on special schools was the best outcome and believed it was an "indication of where society sits". "Clearly, special schools are here to stay," he said. "I've worked [with] some very, very complex kids over the years, and I struggle to imagine how they would be accommodated in the mainstream classroom," he said. Australian Association of Special Education's vice president Sally Howell said the organisation viewed special education as a "teaching practice and a process, not as a location". "Regardless of where children are going to school, their teachers need to have access to highly skilled special education people," Dr Howell, a former special school principal, said. She said the "student always has to come at the centre of any decision". "Some students do have incredibly complex needs, and sometimes a special school environment actually is the right environment for a student," she said. Dr Howell advised that any placement in a special school should have ongoing review and evaluation to ensure it is "student-centred". Ms Fawcett Clarke said she would like to see the state government invest the money into existing schools. She said the "proof is in the pudding" with her son. "This is just a child who's different, who has a disability, who just needs a little bit more support," the devoted mum said.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
New Forest childcare hub gives holiday 'lifeline' to SEND parents
Julia enjoys spending time with her son in the summer holidays, but like for many working parents it is also a time of juggling is something she admits is made 10 times harder because seven-year-old Felix has special education needs - he's autistic and non-verbal."I was looking for holiday childcare for such a long time and it's like another job trying to assess if the environment is right for your child," she says."People find it so challenging to care for children like Felix in holiday clubs or play schemes."Julia works full time as a scientist for a pharmaceutical company in the New Forest, and says even with a well-paid career, the cost of care in the holidays is high. In figures released this week, the children's charity Coram found parents were paying an average of £1,076 per child for summer holiday the study found places are harder to find when children have extra needs and there can be extra costs if children need one-to-one relies on a group called New Forest Outreach Support, which is a non-profit childcare service specifically designed for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).It was set up by Amy Bradsworth, a childcare worker, who said she felt existing provision was not tailored to individual needs for children."Treating every child with an extra need the same doesn't work, one group provision isn't always suitable," she says. For the last two years, her group has hired community halls and organised day trips for SEND children, but next month will open their own base in will cut costs dramatically for parents who have been having to pay entry fees and cover hall hire at the Ms Bradsworth admits the organisation does have higher costs than many childcare providers, with some children needing one-to-one care, and that is one reason it operates as a community interest company. "We have to charge £60 a day if a child needs a one-to-one carer, which can be prohibitively expensive for some parents," she says."But that's not making a profit, just covering costs, staffing and specialist equipment. "I try and make sure all parents are getting the benefits and support they are entitled to help them cover the costs." Ms Bradsworth says she hopes the new hub, which is adapted for those with extra needs, will be "a colourful, beautiful space for children to come and play".The walls have soft linings and there is a sensory room with a swing, a ball pit, dimmable lighting, as well as soundproofing so there can be quiet local community have helped with the refurbishment, with builders and plumbers donating their time, companies sponsoring signage and equipment, and parents who need the facility involved in painting and donating says she thinks Felix will benefit hugely from the hub and the settled environment."I will start planning the next holiday cover months in advance," she says."I can't let my company down or Felix down, so I need to get those slots booked in and then I can relax."The hub is due to open next month. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County schools superintendent says special education audit affirms progress
A highly anticipated audit on special education in Howard County public schools highlighted some longstanding issues staff and parents have raised for years. Ahead of a presentation on the audit on Thursday at a Board of Education meeting, Howard County Public School System Superintendent Bill Barnes called the audit affirming. Barnes said the audit shows the school district is working toward fixing the right issues in special education. Some Board of Education members, though, felt the audit wasn't productive. For Barnes, undertaking this audit means the school district is responding to the concerns raised for some time. "We're not sitting still. We're moving. We're moving forward now with them," Barnes said. Barnes said the audit gives HCPSS a good picture. It was conducted by the nonprofit Research Triangle Institute, or RTI, from December 2024 to June 2025. The audit highlighted some longstanding concerns, including increasing caseloads with fewer staff and providers, not enough professional learning for staff, a lack of supports for students and their IEPs, and families feeling they can't effectively communicate concerns. One parent who was surveyed for the audit said, "It's always a fight. Every single time." "We know that we have to do better in helping families," Barnes said. "It's our goal to ensure that families feel as if they are true partners in the process. Not every family is feeling that, so we have work to do." Some of RTI's recommendations include developing supports to better monitor students' progress, including families more in the process, and reviewing staffing formulas. At the Board of Education meeting, board members questioned how actionable the recommendations are. Some board members went as far as to question the whole audit process, feeling it didn't go far enough. "I was hoping that the report would actually include a recommendation for what Howard County should use. This is a summary of things we already know," said Board of Education member Antonia Watts. Earlier this month, HCPSS unveiled dozens of new and repurposed special education positions to ease teachers' workloads. Barnes said moving forward, the audit will be influencing the creation of a strategic plan that's set to be released early August. "There are no quick fixes; we didn't get here in one day," Barnes said. "We're not gonna get out of here in one day. The improvements are gonna take some time."
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Disabled children suffered higher rates of sexual abuse, Dáil hears during debate on historical abuse
Children with disabilities experienced sexual abuse at a much higher rate than children without a disability, the Dáil heard as it debated historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Michael Moynihan said the scoping inquiry leading to the newly established Commission of Investigation revealed the records of religious orders showed 'some 528 allegations of historical child sexual abuse across 17 special schools in respect of 190 alleged abusers'. The initial scoping inquiry was told of some 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. It was told it involved 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools countrywide between 1927 to 2013. The Minister of State said 'many families entrusted the care of their children into these communities' and 'this is unlikely to be the full extent of the historical abuse in special schools'. READ MORE It was 'truly appalling that the additional vulnerabilities of children in special schools could be so exploited and there has to be accountability', Mr Moynihan said. He was speaking during a debate on the motion to approve the draft order on the Commission of Investigation on the handling of historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. [ Government will 'pursue all levers' to make religious orders pay redress to victims of school sex abuse Opens in new window ] Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley said he had lost many friends who had been abused and it took more than 20 years to find out what happened. 'I lost two friends in primary school where the abuse started and I wasn't aware of it.' He said 'people ran away from school, came back, qualified as solicitors and everything, and unfortunately ended their lives'. He said some of the people who are responsible 'are still alive, some of the principals and vice-principals, Christian Brothers and lay teachers'. Labour's Ciarán Ahern said the Government and other institutions of power 'have excelled in the past at covering up the reality of child sexual abuse'. 'We need only look at the Carrigan report in 1931 to see the DNA of denial that blighted child protection in Ireland from the State's foundation'. The Dublin South-West TD said the Carrigan committee was appointed in 1930 and held 17 sessions. One witness, the police commissioner of the time, 'highlighted an alarming amount of sexual crime, increasing yearly, a feature of which was the large number of cases of criminal interference with girls and children from 16 years and downwards, many children under 10 years of age'. He said the police commissioner believed that less than 15 per cent of sexual crime was being prosecuted but government chose not to publish the report. Minister for Education Helen McEntee thanked 'every single survivor for their bravery, whether they were in a position to come forward or not'. She also thanked the late Mark Ryan and his brother David who came forward for the RTÉ documentary Blackrock Boys, after which the Government established a scoping inquiry. In an address to survivors she said: 'I am truly sorry for what was done to you and the devastating impacts it had on your lives, but I want to thank each and every person for their bravery.'
