Here are my tweets done live during the session, missed some names again but here it is!

Members introducing themselves. Lady from Chard first. Says their relationship with LA good, balance of power even
Jane from HEAS. Fiona from EO. Carol from Autism in Mind. Simon has a 16 year old.
Chairman asked about parents who aren’t articulate. Jane says such parents are really known to LAs and aren’t really HEers
Fiona answering saying anecdotal evidence not good idea. Chard lady saying less vocal parents not out of the loop
Carol saying parents of SEN children too busy to be vocal.
Chairman asking if more research needed. Says stats in Badman report don’t stand up to scrutiny
Fiona agrees with chairman that not knowing number of EHE children wrong
Female MP asks if benefit of finding tiny number of at risk great enough to demand registration of all EHE children
Fiona points out that there is statutory guidance on CME
MP asks if simple registration without Badman strings would be OK?
Simon no (with added rubbish) - [missed bit because of a phone call]
Fiona points out fear that registration would lead to more. Chairman says let’s forget Badman. Fiona thought inevitable
Jane No, can see why you’d want it. Carol head count on the face of it OK, but doesn’t think it would achieve aim
MP how many of panel members registered Simon, Fiona Carol yes others no
MP general lack of confidence in LAs. How can LA establish basics without sucking you into National Curriculum
Carol saying LAs not good at understanding needs of SEN children. Parents often have totally broken relationship with LA
Simon - against overly proscriptive, shouldn’t be formal testing but should be easy to spot failure to educate at all
Fiona suggests more research into why relationship doesn’t work.
Jane saying parents and LAs contact her regularly because LA staff just don’t understand HE
Chard EHE was under equality and diversity dept and so was treated as a cultural minority so has worked much better
Chairman - statement of learning. Simon thinks there should have some idea of what you hope them to be doing
MP points out Simon writing in TES and not typical
Fiona wants to know what would be involved. Doesn’t think 2 sides of A4 sounds likely. Fears it will be uneven
articulate parents would probably find it easier. LAs have been known to turn down 30 pages
Fiona bringing up progress assessment and testing
Chard lady explaining how it won’t work for AE. Jane suicidal and damaged children in no state to be expected to do this
MP Q about AE. Jane children who are AE achieve amazingly. Points out Alan Thomas.
MP quoting from Simon’s paper Fiona pointing out ed doesn’t stop at 16, life long learning, exams can be taken later
subjects evolve, works best with autistic children because they feel they own their learning
MP (former teacher) great range of reasons and styles. What about other parents. Simon says science easy at home
Simon attacking AE, says more research needed
Fiona says again more research needed. Some parents need support. HE support organisations do what they can
Fiona sceptical of support offered by Badman report. Support offered by LAs good in theory
Jane if registration is necessary for support why not make it voluntary.
MP talking about Essex money from LA case. Asking if funding and oversight could be tied together.
Fiona says that was really a small school. Some HE parents might want to go that way but it wouldn’t really be HE
Carol doesn’t believe the money would be there when it wasn’t for SEN children in school. Simon doesn’t believe it either
MP saying why object to registration if your education is ok
Jane LAs already don’t leave people alone. Parents dealing with fallout from school withdrawal
STUPID question comparing doctors to teachers! Carol explaining about her son when he came out of school
Fiona points out that it’s just “if you’ve go nothing to hide …” MP David something pushing on assessment
Fiona talking about good practice. need to look at WHY people don’t make contact.
Zena duty is hers and SHE knows that they are progressing. Not for the state to take over that roll.
Simon sticks the knife in. Rights of the child. End of the session.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 @ 09:49