Games shops with a difference – mixing wargaming with sensory toys!

Little Games Shop LogoEarlier in the week I posted an article about Son2 and his love of Games Workshop. Today, I’m very happy to host a guest spot from Hilary Knight, herself the mother of a son with special needs. Hilary runs The Games Shop at Aldershot in Hampshire and the newly opened Little Games Shop, in Farnham, Surrey.  They stock all the usual stuff to delight boys young and old – but they are much more than that. Read on to find out more:

“Our son aged 9 has special needs and attends a special school. Simple right? No, not simple at all!

I am a qualified nursery nurse, have a degree in Education Studies and Psychology and was a childcare inspector for Ofsted for the under 8’s before I had my daughter. How hard could it be?

We encountered major frustration over getting a diagnosis that didn’t include a conclusion of parental blame while home educating due to threats of him being expelled at 5.5. We walked through the equivalent of treacle getting an educational statement and it almost turned my hair white looking for a school that could meet his needs!

Getting resources or toys for him in the high street like chewy tubes, chewigems, theraputty was and is – IMPOSSIBLE! So, my husband, Rhys and I, decided to bring special needs toys and resources to the high street, working with two occupational therapists.

The Little Games Shop – helping children and adults with additional needs 

  • In our new Farnham store we stock a range of resources including Theraputty, Mr Face, sensory toys, sand timers, chewigems, feely boards, card holders, larger piece puzzles, large print scrabble, pocket money toys as well as the usual mainstream games, puzzles and some really great wooden toys. Soon we are stocking handwriting equipment, weighted blankets etc. We can source products for parents and are working with local SENCo’s. We can mail them out without postage and packing costs.            
  • We don’t believe in inflated prices just because it has the tag line of “special needs”
  • We work with two Occupational Therapists who on hand to advise regarding equipment and resources. Both OT’s have experience of children with additional and sensory needs – Caroline Winfield and Louise Williams.
  • All staff have childcare qualification and/or are parents. On Saturdays we have Veronica who has worked for the National Autistic Society and has  completed courses in ASD and Young People, Social Stories Workshop and also has personal knowledge of ASD.

The Games Shop, Aldershot – 3 floors above the shop with refurbished rooms. – helping children and adults with additional needs:

  • The first Tuesday of the month during school terms, SOS! SEN the special needs advisory charity, hold an advice surgery for parents/carers to navigate their way through the SEN system (without them my son would still be home educated and very unhappy), from 10:15-12:15. No appointment necessary and no fee, although a donation is always welcome.
  • Hampshire NAS hold a social skills group for children every Saturday in Games Room 1 for children who live in Hampshire: Contact Kate Nixon on Tel: 01483 869 553
  • Every Friday from 6-9pm we hold an under 16’s Wargaming club. The shop is a Games Workshop Premium Shop and Rhys used to be a manager for GW. The event is held in the “war room” with two members of staff with bags of knowledge and passion for the game. Come along and paint your army, get expert tips, play Warhammer or Warhammer 40,000 or make/paint your own scenery. Children with additional needs are an asset in this activity with their knowledge and memory and the game can so easily be adapted.
  • Pokémon. We are very lucky to have our own Pokémon professor! Not only is he bursting with passion for the game, but as a qualified nursery nurse, he activity promotes reading and sportsmanship. He will happily show new members how to play and a more suitable time can be arranged for beginners. Saturdays is Pokémon league 10:30 to 1pm.
  • We also host Yu-gi-Oh and Magic the gathering card games on Fridays.

Contact the shop for more info.

Finally, all three rooms plus the War Room are for hire and room rates start at just £10.00 per hour. Rhys has hosted GW parties very successfully as well as LEGO parties all, of course, adapted to the children’s needs and interests.

Just shops that sells traditional games, card games, collectibles, pocket money toys, puzzles, wooden toys, Games Workshop, LEGO? Not our shops!

Pop in Aldershot and say Hello to Rhys or pop into Farnham and say hello to Hilary.

  • The Games Shop, 6 Wellington Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1DZ Tel: 01252 311 443
  • The Little Games Shop, 4 Cambridge Place, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7RX Tel: 01252 710392

The Little Games Shop also has a Facebook page with lots of info and conversation!

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by Special Needs Mum on February 23, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 23, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/23/games-shops-with-a-difference-mixing-wargaming-with-sensory-toys/

Conference for parents of children with special educational needs and professionals

National Autistic Society president, Jane Asher, will be speaking at a conference in Newbury, Berkshire, in June for parents of children with SEN and associated professionals. The agenda will be published soon but the flyer is below and a downloadable pdf version is at the bottom.

Towards_a_Positive_Future_Conference_2012_flyer - Download as PDF

 

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by Special Needs Mum on February 21, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 21, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/21/conference-for-parents-of-children-with-special-educational-needs-and-professionals/

Games Workshop – the perfect hobby for Son2

Until recently, Asperger’s Son2 had no interests that didn’t involve a computer or a games console.

Son2 explains the rules to his Dad

He used to love Lego, but that faded into the background the older he became. He used to spend hours reading and memorising Horrible Science magazines, but that too, petered out. He spends far too much time playing Xbox but at least half the time he’s playing Xbox Live, talking to his school friends as they play together, remotely.

Over the summer however, he became interested in wargaming. Not computerised, but Games Workshop wargaming, painting figures and playing board games with them. This was a revelation and we’ve been quick to support him. This entails spending vast amounts of money on Orks (for my husband to play with him) and Space Marines (for him) as well as Codex books, paints and carry boxes.

Most Sundays I take him to Games Workshop where he paints alongside a few other boys, instructed by the fantastic guys who run the store. These guys are amazing – always on hand to help in a low key, let-them-get-on-with-it sort of way. They’re not teachers but my son is learning valuable skills both social and practical.

Dad being resoundingly thrashed at a game by Son2

Son2 has dyspraxia and has always found art, painting and writing incredibly difficult. But the care and detail he puts into painting his Space Marines is a joy to see. I’m certain it’s improving his fine motor skills which should improve his school artwork. He’s also learning from Nick, the GW guy, more about rules and how to play the games. Strangely, there’s always a little something Son2 decides he needs to buy at the end of the session as well.

It’s not wholly surprising that he’s picked a hobby that involves collecting and being immersed in a scenario – but if it’s improving his communication skills with real people, I’m all for it.

So even though on most Sundays, I can be found wasting two hours wandering around the adjoining shopping centre or sitting in Starbucks on my iPad as I wait for his session to finish, it’s worth it – just to see him interacting with something that doesn’t need plugging in.

The basic gaming table

Best of all, he’s enjoying himself and it’s a hobby my husband can enjoy with him as my husband sculpts his own figures – not fantasy but World War II. This game in the pictures lasted two days and Son2 thrashed his Dad, much to his delight.

What’s your special needs child’s favourite pastime?

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by Special Needs Mum on February 20, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 20, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/20/games-workshop-the-perfect-hobby-for-son2/

Special needs stories you’ll want to read this week

Some great stories and blog posts about special needs that I spotted this week. If you have one of your own, add it in the blog comments below!

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by Special Needs Mum on February 17, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 17, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/17/special-needs-stories-youll-want-to-read-this-week/

Want your SEN product or service listed on the Special Needs Jungle site?

Special Needs Jungle has lots of visitors every day ranging from parents & carers to SEN professionals. It has many email subscribers and is also available for subscription on Kindle.

The site has a page where links to SEN sites and resources are listed. If you would like to have your SEN resource or product listed, please use the contact form to get in touch.

This service is free for parent support groups and SEN/Disability charities. For other companies, there is a £20 a year donation fee that will go to More House Special School in Farnham for its fund to build a School of Engineering.

More House School educates boys from 8 to 18 who might be bright but who have some form of learning difficulty that impedes their progress in mainstream school.

If you know of a company who might be interested in taking advantage of this offer, please forward this link to them.

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by Special Needs Mum on February 13, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in It's about the school, Links, Really useful site
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 13, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/13/want-your-sen-product-or-service-link-on-the-special-needs-jungle-site/

What did you miss? Special Needs stories from the last week

It’s a bumper round-up of special needs stories and blogs this week – check out what you might have missed:

Got one of your own? Add it in the blog comments.

TOTS 100 - UK Parent Blogs
familyholidays.co.uk
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by Special Needs Mum on February 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 10, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/10/what-did-you-miss-special-needs-stories-from-the-last-week/

Josh’s book aims to help parents of Asperger’s kids

Raising Martians - from Crash-landing to Leaving HomeA student with Asperger’s syndrome has written a book to help parents who have children with the disorder.

Joshua Muggleton, 22, a student at University of St Andrews, wrote Raising Martians to help parents understand the minds of their children.

The book has a foreword from from world-renowned Asperger Syndrome expert, Tony Attwood. Opening with the very basics of what autism is, Joshua covers mental health, sensory issues, obsessions and rituals, friendships and social situations, and shopping, travelling, and holidays, before tackling what is arguably the biggest challenge of any Aspie child’s life: school – and with it, bullying, homework, and other challenges. Providing the inside track on Asperger Syndrome in childhood, he describes practical ways in which parents and teachers can help, and offers a wealth of advice and helpful hints and tips for approaching common difficulties.

Josh, who is from Surrey and is a member of the National Autistic Society, said the book title came from the idea that “raising a child with Asperger’s can feel like raising an alien”.

The fourth-year psychology student said: “People with Asperger’s have a lot to contribute to society but there is very little education out there for parents and teachers. Education is something of a silver bullet when it comes to helping young people with the condition and without it, deep-set problems can develop at school age.

“My book offers a more personal insight because it’s been written by someone with the condition and not a clinical psychologist. Every child is different but I try to put the parents in the child’s shoes and facilitate some understanding.”

He has been signed up to write a second book to help make research into Asperger’s more accessible to parents and teachers.

He said: “The way I see it, I could either lash out or try to make a difference. There are kids out there having a harder time than me, and adults too, and if I can help just one person, this is my chance to give something back.”

“There is lots of information in the book, and I really hope that people take that on board, but to me, what is more important is that they gain an understanding of, and an insight into life with Asperger Syndrome. If you understand someone with Asperger Syndrome, then knowing that it is named after Hans Asperger is redundant. While that sort of information might be interesting, it is far more useful to know how the person with Asperger Syndrome thinks: what he or she might find hard and why, what things might set them off, and what things will calm them down, what things they will be really good at, and what things they might struggle at.”

Source: PA, JKP Publishing

Find the book on AmazonUK  or AmazonUS or at JK Publishers

 

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by Special Needs Mum on February 8, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 8, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/08/joshs-book-aims-to-help-parents-of-aspergers-kids/

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for children with autism

An interesting new treatment for children with ASD is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). A 2009 study showed it can have beneficial effects on the symptoms of autism and a 2011 study on Thai autistic children showed that 75% of children showed some improvements.

Jeff Birnberg of Andi Hyperbarics writes here exclusively for Special Needs Jungle explaining how HBOT works:

“What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)? If you’re like most people, you just drew a blank, but if you are a diver who ascended from depth too quickly or someone who was struck down by carbon monoxide poisoning and in both cases lived to talk about it, in 99% of those cases it was HBOT that saved your life.

If you suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury and were treated with HBOT, you were the fortunate recipient of a treatment that helped to restore some or all of the functions you lost. If you are the parent of a child who had been diagnosed with Autism* and included HBOT as part of the treatment protocol, you most likely saw improvement in your child’s health and wellbeing.
At sea level, the body breathes ambient air, absorbing about 21% Oxygen (O2); this is the most oxygen the hemoglobin can absorb under normal circumstances. This oxygen is then distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream. But what happens when, as the result of a bodily injury, or degenerative condition, the supply of O2 is decreased or lost completely? The cells begin to shutdown and of course will eventually die. The result is the retardation of or the complete loss of cell function and the consequent reduction of or elimination of body and brain functions associated with those cells.
With HBOT, we create an environment where the air pressure is greater than sea level and the person breaths medically pure oxygen; oxygen, generally at 93% to 100% purity.  As a direct result of the increase in air pressure the oxygen will now be absorbed into the body’s fluids. Those same cells that were in suspended animation or dying from lack of Oxygen will begin to receive O2 via the body’s fluids and responding; will begin the process of healing.

Will HBOT work for everyone? No. For those for whom it does work, are the improvements in health and well being worth the time and investment needed to see results? Absolutely!
There are options for receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy. There are hospitals and private clinics run by GPs; the cost ranging from £100 – £200 per hour. There are charities such as the MS National Therapy Centres**, which will consider treating autism and where the cost is minimal. There is also the option of purchasing a soft portable hyperbaric chamber which can be placed within one’s own home and operated solo or with the assistance of a trained family member. Chambers for home use are more convenient, eliminating the time and difficulties associated with travelling to a remote location. It’s also much less costly over the long term, making it possible for families or even families acting together to share a chamber, to provide a treatment that has helped so many.

Links:

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by Special Needs Mum on February 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, Treatment & Therapy
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 6, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/06/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-for-children-with-autism/

SEN stories in the past week

Interesting special needs stories from the last week. If you have one I missed, leave it in the comments!

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by Special Needs Mum on February 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in SEN News Story Round Up
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 3, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/03/sen-stories-in-the-past-week/

Kosovan special needs parent group appeal

A Kosovan special needs parent group has been in touch with the UK website Netbuddy, looking for help. They are asking for donations of special needs related items, so if you have got anything you can spare that you think might be useful, please send it to 7 Wildwood Road, London NW11 6UL by 2 March or drop it off in person to the same address on either 19 or 26 Feb.

One to One Childrens Fund, which is a UK charity working in Kosovo, will take your offerings there for us. This is an opportunity to help families and carers like ourselves, who are managing with far fewer resources and very little support. Please help!

Items that would be of use include:

* Sensory and cause and effect Toys * Adapted Toys * Clothes * Toiletries * Glasses * Adapted Cutlery/cups/plates * Adapted clothing * DVD’s * CD’s * Waterproof Mattress covers * Bibs * Feeder aprons * Sleep suits * Changing mats *

Anything else you can think of gratefully accepted!

Many thanks,

Emma and the Netbuddy team

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by Special Needs Mum on February 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Really useful site, special needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 2, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/02/kosovan-special-needs-parent-group-appeal/

Poll results – Should children with Asperger’s automatically be statutorily assessed?

Last year I published a poll on this site asking whether people thought children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (quick, use the term before it’s abolished!) should automatically receive a statutory assessment by the local educational authority.

I posed three potential answers:

  1. Yes, because teachers aren’t trained to spot underlying difficulties
  2. No, we should just see how they get on
  3. No, we should trust the school to decide what level of help they need

Now, I assume that most of my readers are parents with SEN children but there are also readers who have a professional interest in SEN, so I admit that the results may be skewed somewhat. Having said that, a whopping 96 per cent of respondents thought that AS is so complex in its presention that children with that diagnosis should receive a professional, school-based assessment to determine their special needs.

This isn’t to say that they should all be statemented (or get an EHC Plan as it will be), but most respondents believed that it is important to understand what their needs are and how they can be met to level the playing field, giving them an equal chance of success at school and beyond.

3% though we should see how they get on and just 2% thought that teachers were best placed to decide the level of help required. There were more than 150 responses.

I am a firm believer that school success and success as an adult does not depend on academic achievement alone. We all hope that our children, whether they are ‘normal’ or whether they face additional challenges, will grow up to be rounded, socially adept individuals. Even in this age of web interconnectedness, knowing the correct social response in a face to face meeting is still vitally important. We are, after all, social beings.

I know this only too well from my own sons. Even though our eldest is incredibly bright, we could see that he had many social difficulties and these, in turn, affected his school experience and academic achievements.  We did not want him to turn out to be an angry alienated genius and, thanks to interventions, support and the right school, he won’t be. Without an assessment that I fought for and drove forward, we might still be asking ourselves.. but he’s so bright.. why does he do this or that, it makes no sense.. (I’ve talked about his issues previously, with his agreement, now he’s a teenager I have to be careful what I say).

I say whatever you call Asperger Syndrome in the future, and whatever you replace statements with, when parents suspect their child has social difficulties they should always raise the issue with teachers and do their own research as well.

Some difficulties experienced by children with high functioning ASD can seem obscure and hard to verbalise. Yet if they go unaddressed, they can end up having a long-term negative impact on a child well into adulthood. I believe that every child on the spectrum should have an Ed Psych or Outreach assessment so that teachers who are not experts in autism (nor would most claim to be) can be given help to ensure that every pupil they teach has a fair chance of a decent learning experience.

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by Special Needs Mum on February 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in special needs, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on February 1, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/02/01/poll-results-should-children-with-aspergers-automatically-be-statutorily-assessed/

Special needs stories this week

Some interesting stories this week…

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by Special Needs Mum on January 27, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in parenting, SEN News Story Round Up, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 27, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/27/special-needs-stories-this-week/

Empowering parents is the goal for Pat

I’m delighted today to introduce a guest blog post from Pat Bolton, who works with a small  team of Participation Practitioners at Parents In Power, Gateshead,  www.parentsinpower.btck.co.uk  Pat works at the coalface of special educational needs and helps parents every day to get the support their children need.

*

Parents In Power is a Parent/Carer Forum. Every Authority has a parent/carer forum and to find out more information or where your own parent/carer forum is located in your area go to www.nnpcf.org.uk . We are independent and  work with some of the most amazing parents of children with disabilities, their strength and fortitude is second to none, no matter what is thrown at them week after week.

I have a son who is now a young man, 19 years old with ADHD, Dyspraxia and Autistic Traits and he is the most awesome of people. His brother who is 17, puts up a lot with his brother and is one cool dude, but one thing is for sure they love each other to bits and boy do they look out for each other.

So I have walked that walk, that long and frustrating journey and I have to say, sorry folks, but it doesn’t end at  16. But I was lucky enough to get my son in an Independent Special School and paid for by the Local Authority.

Every parent/carer that I come across without a shadow of a doubt tells me they are sick of fighting for what they feel their child simply needs and is entitled to in order to lead a normal a life as possible and for their child to reach their potential in whatever that means.

Their problems are nearly always linked with their child’s school and the frustration and energy it takes in trying to get this part of their child’s life right, I mean let’s face it, what a massive part of their lives it is.

Meetings are daunting at the best of times, but when you get into school for a meeting and there is yourself and 7/10 professionals around the table it can sometimes actually be frightening. To prepare parents for such meetings I go through all the issues that need to be addressed, and the points that the parents feel they must point out.  We write them down on what can sometimes be a long list, so in the meeting the parent is satisfied that they have said everything they want to. Or if it is too emotional for them, I will bring these points up for them.

I have gone into meetings where the parents have been an absolute quivering wreck, feeling sick and just wanting to go home, yet just by me saying, “I am with you, you are not alone, I am there to support you” brings out the best in the parent. They are assertive, they get their points across and work down their list of questions. I minute it all for them. When they leave the meeting, although they hardly remember a thing that has been said, they feel so empowered.

That is one of our main aims, to empower parents to be competent and confident in supporting their children.  My biggest concern over the years has been to ensure that when a parent gets their child’s statement to ensure that it is quantified and qualified. So it does not say something like a ‘ systematic programme of speech therapy’. What does that mean? One hour a day,  a week/month/term and by whom. If it isn’t quantified and qualified how can it be legally challenged? A school might interpret that as an hour a month, a parent might interpret that as a couple hours a month. It needs to be fully explained in the statement.

Another part of school life that has really annoyed me are exclusions and as I write this I am eagerly waiting  for the release of the results of the Children’s Commissioner, Dr Maggie Atkinson’s inquiry into exclusions: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/  This is due out 19th March 2012 and I will reading this with a fine toothcomb, hoping she has captured the inequalities of exclusions for children with Disabilities, especially those with disability related behavioural difficulties.

My son was excluded 11 times in one year, what did he learn from this? Simply that every time he wanted a couple of days off school to misbehave,  it worked. No matter how hard I worked with the school and I worked a lot harder than the school did on this one, they still excluded him until the day the big permanent exclusion came. My son and I cried together all weekend. The result was an independent special school which could not cater for his academic ability.

For those just embarking on this journey I wish you luck, get as much expert support as possible you will need it.  If you don’t know where to start contact your local parent/carer forum, website address above and they will advise you.

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by Special Needs Mum on January 25, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Disability Financial Help, special educational needs, special needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 25, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/25/empowering-parents-is-the-goal-for-pat/

Get the Special Needs Jungle Blog delivered to your Kindle

I’m delighted to announce that Special Needs Jungle is now available as a Kindle Blog subscription. For just 99p a month you can have every post delivered wirelessly to your Kindle or Kindle app so that you can read it offline whenever you want, even if you’re not near your computer.

It means you’re always connected to important SEN news, views and information as well as guest posts from interesting contributors.

If you’re Kindle enabled, whether it’s through a Kindle, ipad or smartphone app, subscribe from the links below:

UK:

 

 

US:

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by Special Needs Mum on January 23, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 23, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/23/get-the-special-needs-jungle-blog-delivered-to-your-kindle/

SEN Stories in the news this past week

Recap of SNJ posts and other news about SEN this week:

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by Special Needs Mum on January 20, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Really useful site, SEN News Story Round Up
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 20, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/20/sen-stories-in-the-news-this-past-week/

Disability groups call for pause for thought in welfare reform

The NAS has today thrown its weight behind a call for the government to reconsider its plans for welfare reform relating to the Disability Living Allowance. The level of fraud for this allowance is very low and thr form that has to be filled in just to apply for it isn’t for the faint-hearted.

This is what the NAS had to say on their website:

We are calling on the Government to pause the Welfare Reform bill and carefully consider its reform of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). The Welfare Reform Bill which will implement these proposed reforms is now in the final stages of its Parliamentary passage but the details of how the reform would affect disabled people have not been fully investigated.

Last week a Responsible Reform report (known as the Spartacus report) revealed strong opposition from disabled people, charities and other interested groups to the Coalition Government’s proposed changes to DLA. The report showed worrying evidence that the Government’s decision to reduce projected DLA expenditure by 20% may have been based on incomplete or misleading data about the reasons for growth in DLA.  It has also been revealed today that the proposed changes will lead to 500,000 disabled people no longer being eligible for this benefit.

Independent surveys carried out by some of the signatories to this letter have shown that cuts to DLA will force more disabled people into poverty, which is likely to increase the burden on the NHS and social care system in the long run. Such a potentially risky change in policy should not be taken forward without a robust and accurate evidence base and the support of disabled people and the experts in this field.

Last year the Government took the bold decision to pause and reflect on its reorganisation of the NHS after similar levels of concern and anxiety from medical groups and patients. Today Papworth Trust, Action on Hearing Loss, Brandon Trust, Campaign for a Fair Society, Disability Rights UK, Disability Wales, Ekklesia, Leonard Cheshire Disability, MS Society, The National Autistic Society, Rethink Mental Illness, RNIB, Sense, Three Cs, United Response and the Westminster Society are asking the Government to show similar foresight and pause the Welfare Reform Bill to investigate the strong concerns raised above. We ask Peers to support amendments to pause the legislation that will affect so many people’s lives.

Source: National Autistic Society

Surely the government cannot ignore such a wealth of disability expertise all telling them that this most vulnerable group of people will be thrown into poverty (not that they’re living the high life now) if their reforms go through unamended. Can they?

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by Special Needs Mum on January 18, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Disability Financial Help
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 18, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/18/disability-groups-call-for-pause-for-thought-in-welfare-reform/

SEN stories in the news this week

It’s been a busy week of posts on Special Needs Jungle. I’ve listed a round up below along with some other SEN stories of interest in the news. Next week, I’ll be answering questions about SEN on TheSchoolRun.com - why don’t you join us?

I subscribe to many RSS feeds bringing news stories about SEN, disability and general education. If I should subscribe to your RSS from your site or blog, leave your weblink in the comments.

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by Special Needs Mum on January 13, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 13, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/13/sen-stories-in-the-news-this-week/

A new SEN Advice service from Contact-a-Family

Contact  a Family, the national charity that helps support parents with disabled children has launched a new SEN National Advice Service.

This service will help families whose child may have special educational needs – we will be able to provide advice and information on any aspect of their child’s education. Help is available through their helpline 0808 808 3555, or post a query on Facebook or Twitter and a SEN adviser will get back to you. Alternatively drop us an email: helpline@cafamily.org.uk.

The service is available for anyone who thinks their child may have special educational needs – whether or not they have a disability or has already been identified as having SEN.

The Contact A Family Service can advise on:

The SEN process – including:

  • Early years
  • School Action and School Action Plus
  • Individual Education Plans (IEP’s)
  • Statutory Assessment/ Statements
  • Annual Reviews
  • Transition planning and education after 16
  • Appeals

Other general education issues as they affect children with SEN, which include:

  • Transport to school
  • Bullying
  • Exclusion
  • Medical needs in school
  • Attendance at school
  • Home Education

You can find out more about the service and Contact A Family in general here: http://www.cafamily.org.uk/families/SEN.html

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by Special Needs Mum on January 12, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Disability Financial Help, family, Really useful site, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 12, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/12/a-new-sen-advice-service-from-contact-a-family/

IT teaching overhaul announced – about time too!

Michael Gove, the Education Secretary has today announced an overhaul of the way IT is taught in schools. This is great news and I hope our school, although not a state school will do the same. I know they already have some plans underway to beef up the computer science element.

I first talked out this subject back in November last year in the wake of companies like Google and Microsoft saying that our IT teaching was putting Britain at a disadvantage for its future in the tech industry. I back this view entirely. As I said in my earlier post, it’s especially important for children with Asperger’s to be exposed to coding at an early age as many (though not all) have an aptitude for IT and the sciences. Certainly Son2 does and it’s important to support and encourage him in a field in which he can excel as an adult. In fact, I suggest they go further and give extension work for more able students as they do in Maths and English.

Below is an excerpt from the Gove announcement:

The move, which is being supported by industry experts including Ian Livingstone – co-founder of Games Workshop, would give schools the freedom to create their own ICT and Computer Science curricula that equip pupils with the skills employers want.

Other experts, including the British Computer Society and ICT professional association Naace, confirm the current National Curriculum Programme of Study is dull and unsatisfactory. Some respondents to a 2008 e-Skills study said that GCSE ICT was “so harmful, boring and/or irrelevant it should simply be scrapped”.

Companies such as Microsoft and Google and Cambridge University are already working with technology education organisations, such as the British Computer Society, to produce free materials for schools. More are expected to follow.

The Education Secretary also said he was keen for high-quality qualifications in Computer Science to be developed, and welcomed industry-giant IBM’s involvement.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said in his speech today:

“As the chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt, recently lamented, we in England have allowed our education system to ignore our great heritage and we are paying the price for it. Our school system has not prepared children for this new world. Millions have left school over the past decade without even the basics they need for a decent job. And the current curriculum cannot prepare British students to work at the very forefront of technological change.

The best degrees in Computer Science are among the most rigorous and respected qualifications in the world… and prepare students for immensely rewarding careers and world-changing innovations. But you’d never know that from the current ICT curriculum. This is why we are withdrawing it from September. Technology in schools will no longer be micro-managed by Whitehall. By withdrawing the Programme of Study, we’re giving teachers freedom over what and how to teach, revolutionising ICT as we know it.

Universities, businesses and others will have the opportunity to devise new courses and exams. In particular, we want to see universities and businesses create new high-quality Computer Science GCSEs, and develop curricula encouraging schools to make use of the brilliant Computer Science content available on the web. ICT will remain a compulsory part of the National Curriculum, pending the National Curriculum review.

Mr Gove mentioned that “We could have  11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations using an MIT tool called Scratch. By 16, they could have an understanding of formal logic previously covered only in University courses and be writing their own Apps for smartphones.”

Son2 has been able to use Scratch to create animations since he was about nine, and has moved on – but then he is exceptional. But because he is, I think an individualised approach needs to be taken where, as I mentioned earlier, the most able are progressed as fast as they can manage with extension work. Teaching Son2 Scratch wouldn’t do much for him. He’s ready to write apps now. But the elephant in the room is – who’s going to teach them? Are we going to sack existing IT teachers and employ people who are experts in what needs to be taught or just send the current IT teachers on courses to upgrade their skills. Either way, it needs to be done soon.

It’s unacceptable to be told, as I was a year ago that, “We don’t really teach coding here.” Well you should and I hope this announcement will also resonate with private and specialist schools like ours who are not bound by the diktats of  the National Curriculum.

To join in with The Guardian’s campaign click here

To read the full Department of Education report, click here

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by Special Needs Mum on January 11, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in It's about the school, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 11, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/11/it-teaching-overhaul-announced-about-time-too/

Questions please for my stint at TheSchoolRun

TheSchoolRun website is packed to the gills with great ideas to help your child’s learning. It’s bright, colourful and is a fantastic resource. The site aims to demystify school for parents, giving you all the tools you need to understand what and how your child is learning at primary school. Their informative articles, packed with advice from experts and practical tips from teachers, help parents get to grips with new educational techniques and feel confident about supporting their kids’ schoolwork.

And the week starting 16th January, they’ve kindle invited me to host a Question & Answer board about Special Educational Needs statementing. I’m not a legal expert so I won’t be dishing out legal help but I will certainly be able to offer some great signposting and answer lots of your statementing queries. The board has already begun registering questions that I will be answering as best I can from next week.

To take part, head over to this part of the site. It’s a members site so you’ll need to register if you haven’t already – and if you’re new, a huge amount of great resources awaits you from the site as a whole. Even if you don’t have a specific question, you may find someone has asked a question you’d like to know the answer to.

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by Special Needs Mum on January 11, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in special educational needs, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 11, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/11/questions-please-for-my-stint-at-theschoolrun/

Report finds government misled MPs and peers of disability benefit reform

A NEW REPORT entitled Responsible Reform, published today by disabled people (9 January 2012), finds that government misled MPs and peers over the hostility to disability benefit reform.

It finds that Parliament has been given only a partial view of the overwhelming opposition to the Coalition’s planned reforms of a key disability benefit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

It also finds that this opposition was previously not released to public scrutiny by the Government.

The report is based on the responses to the government’s own consultation on its planned DLA reforms, which were only made public once disabled people requested them under the Freedom of Information Act.
Findings include:

* 98 per cent of respondents objected to the qualifying period for benefits being raised from three months to six months
* 99 per cent of respondents objected to Disability Living Allowance no longer being used as a qualification for other benefits
* 92 per cent opposed removing the lowest rate of support for disabled people

In all three cases, as well as many others, London’s Conservative Mayor, Boris Johnson also objected to the proposed changes. He said in his response to the official consultation:

“The Mayor would call for the Government to retain the three-month qualifying period as the increase to six months will mean that people with fluctuating conditions have increased difficulty meeting the qualifying period. People with fluctuating conditions face the same barriers that all disabled face in relation to higher costs of living and DLA is essential to maintain a decent quality of life.”

“We would recommend that the passporting system remains the same as under DLA, as it has worked well when signposting people to additional benefits to which they may be entitled.”

“The Mayor does not support this change, as those on the lower rate care component may have additional costs as a result of their impairment but may lose their access to this benefit as part of the proposed removal under the reforms.”

The new report, Responsible Reform, suggests that the government’s DLA consultation breached the government’s own code of practice and was “highly misleading”.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of the mental health charity Mind, said: “The ‘Responsible Reform’ report is essential reading for everyone with an interest in Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reform including the Government and Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee. It is a vital contribution to the debate on reform and a huge achievement for the volunteers who have produced it.

“As well as forensically deconstructing many of the arguments offered by the Government for their proposed reform, the report shows that much of the rise in claimants over recent years has been down to better access to the benefit for people with mental health problems, whose needs are often fluctuating and invisible.

Among the report’s conclusions are that:

* Only seven per cent of organisations that took part in the consultation were fully in support of plans to replace DLA with PIP
* There was overwhelming opposition in the consultation responses to nearly all of the government’s proposals for DLA reform
* The government has consistently used inaccurate figures to exaggerate the rise in DLA claimants
* The report shows that nearly all of the recent increase in working-age claimants of DLA has been associated with mental health conditions and learning difficulties. Between 2002 and 2010, the number of working-age DLA claimants – excluding those with mental health conditions and learning difficulties remained remarkably stable
* 98 per cent of those who responded opposed plans to change the qualifying period for PIP from three months (as it is with DLA) to six months
* 90 per cent opposed plans for a new assessment, which disabled people fear will be far too similar to the much-criticised work capability assessment used to test eligibility for employment and support allowance (ESA)
* Respondents to the consultation repeatedly warned that the government’s plans could breach the Equality Act, the Human Rights Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Use the links below to read the full press release and to access the report and the blog of Diary of a Benefit Scrounger, one of the report’s authors.

Source: Ekklesia | Full report for download | Blog from one of the report’s authors

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by Special Needs Mum on January 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Disability Financial Help
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 10, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/10/report-finds-government-misled-mps-and-peers-of-disability-benefit-reform/

Which learning resources help SEN kids? Take this survey

Ann Beck, of  The Gift of Learning has asked me to help get her message out about a survey  she’s devised to assess what kind of learning resources SEN children need. See below for details and a link to the survey
“Can you help me to help your child learn?
I have recently started a new business venture with a view to supplying learning resources to parents of children with special educational needs.  As a mum I found it difficult to find affordable resources to help my own son who is dyslexic and suffers from anxiety and so ‘The Gift of Learning’ was born (www.thegiftoflearning.co.uk) .
I’m currently researching which areas of education parents feel they need the most help with and what better way than to ask you directly?  I value your opinions and hope that you can spare me a couple of minutes to answer 4 short questions.
If you’d like to help follow this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8VRRDNG
Thank you!
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by Special Needs Mum on January 10, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 10, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/10/what-learning-resources-help-sen-kids-take-this-survey/

Teachers didn’t understand my bright sons’ ASD, says Tania Tirraoro (SEN Magazine)

I’ve just been sent a pdf of my article that was in the last issue of SEN Magazine.

The magazine is a great read – lots of useful ideas for anyone – parent or professional – involved in SEN. The have a free trial offer and it’s just £32 a year to subscribe. I take my copy to read while I’m waiting in my car for my boys to finish at school

Click the link here to read  in full about whether teachers find it hard to recognise special needs in bright pupils.

An interesting addendum to the piece, we often hear (and experience) how teachers miss signs of SEN or fob parents off saying, they child is ‘just young’. My sister, herself a teacher with SEN qualifications (a rare bird, is she) says she is often leery of mentioning to parents when she spots a potential SEN problem such as ASD or ADHD in a child. This is because often the parents don’t want to know and can be quite aggressive when the matter is raised by a sharp-eyed and concerned teacher. The pendulum swings both ways….

Click the image below to open the story. SEN Magazine can be found online at www.senmagazine.co.uk. Twitter: @SENMagazine

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by Special Needs Mum on January 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in special educational needs, special needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 9, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/09/teachers-didnt-understand-my-bright-sons-asd-says-tania-tirraoro-sen-magazine-autism/

2012 brings a School Run SEN Qn’A and a win for Pat! #specialneeds

SEN-Getting Started With StatementsIt’s January 6th and my boys are still off school; they finally go back on Monday. It’s been an interesting Christmas break with my eldest having a party for 12 of his closest teen pals at our house (my sister who was staying with us cleared off to the pub). This was preceded by just minutes by my 12 year old slipping off his bedroom ‘Balcony’ (he doesn’t have one) and me seeing him tumble past the kitchen window to the floor. He was mercifully unhurt, though I had to reach for the Christmas sherry at 4pm.  No surprise that I was almost catatonic by Christmas Day. Still, Jamies’ turkey was a hit, the gravy went down a storm and the brandy for the pudding ended up in my glass.

The teenage years bring their own set of issues and these are intensified by their Asperger’s. They are both completely different in their needs and idiosyncrasies - as they say, if you’ve seen one child with Asperger’s, you’ve seen one child with Asperger’s. Finding new ways to parent in adolescence is challenging and exhausting. 2012 looks to be an interesting year for us!

It’ll also be interesting to see how the SEN Green paper progresses though its pathfinder stages in the coming months. Our LEA, Surrey and that of neighbouring Hampshire are among those chosen to test run the proposals and Special Needs Jungle will be watching closely.

When the changes, in whatever form they come, are implemented, I’ll have to update my SEN guide to Statementing book. The name will have to change for a start, though I’m quite certain all the advice to parents having to gather evidence to prove their child’s needs will stay exactly the same. They may abolish the word ‘statement’ but if you want your child to get high level SEN support, you’re still going to have to prove your case and my book can help. Nothing is going to change in the next few months anyway, so if you’re thinking about applying for an assessment, don’t delay – the process is long and often arduous so start gathering your evidence as soon as you can.

I’m soon to be hosting a Q&A on The School Run website about statementing – get your questions in now and I’ll be answering them during the week beginning 16th January.

If you’re interested in the book – and it’s sold quite a few copies it seems, so there’s a lot of people who are looking for advice – it’s just £6.99 on Amazon or £5.18 for Kindle. If you fancy a free copy, I’m offering two for people taking part in The School Run Q&A, check out their site at the link in the para above.

Also, congrats to Pat Bolton Arkless who won the free copy in my Christmas giveaway. Son2 wafted down from his Technolair that he’d scented with cinnamon Glade, graciously leaving his 32″ TV (thanks to fab pre-Christmas sales) Xbox experience to select a name from the hat. Pat, it turns out, runs Parent Power in Gateshead that helps families with special needs kids, so I popped an extra copy in there to help her very valuable work. And now I’ve found her, I also cheekily asked if she could find time to write a guest post about her work. Even though she’s a busy woman, she’s kindly agreed so we’ll feature this in the coming weeks (No rush, Pat, if you’re reading!).

So, Happy New Year to you all and if you have any ideas for great posts, or want to write one suitable for here, get in touch!

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by Special Needs Mum on January 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in parenting, Really useful site, special needs, Statementing
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 6, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/06/2012-brings-a-school-run-sen-qa-and-a-win-for-pat-specialneeds/

Resilient Parenting – A Guest post by Lesley McCall, NLP & Hypnotherapy Practitioner

Happy New Year! At this time of the year, we’re often thinking about how we can change our lives, and those of our children, for the better. I’m delighted to have a New Year guest post from Lesley McCall, an NLP practitioner and Hypnotherapist. She is experienced in helping people with parenting issues and with children who have special needs.

_______________________                       

Lesley McCall

Nobody ever warns you do they?  When you have a baby it’s all excitement and blue sky with no hint of a cloud. Nobody ever warns you of the pain you will feel when your child is struggling – it’s like having your own little voodoo doll – they get hurt and you feel the pain. Suffering by proxy.

However if we can learn to be resilient parents it will help our children be resilient too and many studies have shown that resilient children make happier adults.

So what makes us resilient? The short answer is learning to cope with adversity. The gardeners amongst us know that if you raise seedlings on a warm windowsill with no draughts then they grow ‘leggy’ and weak. These seedlings will wilt as soon as they face the cold winds of outside and will struggle to survive. Far better to allow them some cool breezes now and then while they are growing to prepare and strengthen them for the outside world. In the same way our children would never have learned to walk if we had never let go of their hand.

So how do we become resilient parents? How do we maintain our perspective when our children are unhappy?

Think of it like this – if you are drowning then you can’t save anyone else—all that happens is that you both drown faster if you try. But get yourself into a boat and you can pull them in too.

Some Techniques that may help:

1. Positive Future Pacing

Anxiety is all about the future – anxious people imagine all sorts of disasters approaching. If all you can see is oncoming disaster, no wonder they are scared. When your child has challenges it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing the worst – but that’s no use to either them or you.

The truth is that you really don’t know what lies ahead. No matter what you have been told by medical professionals, health workers, well-meaning friends – they don’t know for SURE how it will turn out – nobody does. If someone tells you that in all probability such and such will happen say ‘How do you KNOW ?’ Always believe in the best possible outcome – you never know, it might happen.

2. Challenge negative thoughts – yours and your child’s.

The most influential person you listen to is you– so be careful what you say to yourself. Challenge negative thoughts – are they really true? How likely are they to happen?

3. Learn to be selfish from time to time- without guilt

Your child needs you to be strong – if you are stressed to the point of illness how is that going to help them? So take care of yourself so you can take care of them – eat well, learn to relax, take time out for you when you can. This all makes you stronger – better able to support everyone else.

4. Think Straight- perspective!

Don’t make problems worse than they are – and don’t invent them. If it hasn’t happened then don’t think about it – it may never happen.

5. Reframe the negative to the positive

‘My child can’t do ….but they can do ‘

‘This is never going to happen…..but something better might’

‘I can’t see a solution to this ……yet’

6. Remember – you and your child see things differently.

What hurts you might not bother them. Your child is not you. For example: if you are an extrovert then you might hate being on your own but if your child is an introvert then they may need to be alone to ‘recharge’ their batteries. They may not see being alone as a problem. Do not impose your ‘model of the world’ on them – they have different ideas, beliefs and views to you. If they say they are okay – believe them.

Finally always remember that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. If you offer your child unconditional love, support and approval then you – and they – are doing well.

If you would like my free relaxation techniques please contact me on

Lesley@thirdattic.com or contact me via my website, www.lesleymccall.co.uk

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by Special Needs Mum on January 3, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on January 3, 2012

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2012/01/03/751/

Special Educational Needs stories of the week

This will be the last one of the year as i take a break and concentrate on my boys for Christmas. Have a great Christmas. If you do something different to accommodate the needs of your child, would love to hear about how you manage with the festive season.

Don’t forget my Christmas Giveaway – you just have to go to www.facebook.com/specialneedsjungle and ‘like’ it and you’ll be entered in the draw for a copy of my SEN book, Getting started with Statements – even if you don’t need it yourself, you may know someone who does.  If you already like the page, just leave a comment asking to be entered.

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by Special Needs Mum on December 23, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, special educational needs, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on December 23, 2011

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2011/12/23/sen-stories-of-the-week/

Have you ever applied for a Statementing Assessment for your child? If so, take this poll!

I’m carrying out a poll into how people fare when they initially apply for a Statutory Assessment for their child. If you’re been through it please take the poll and share the poll with as many people as possible. The results will be published in the New Year. Thank you!

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by Special Needs Mum on December 22, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, Disability Financial Help, It's about the school, special needs, Statementing, Statements of SEN
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on December 22, 2011

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2011/12/22/have-you-ever-applied-for-a-statementing-assessment-for-your-child-if-so-take-this-poll/

Christmas Giveaway – a copy of my SEN Book

SEN-Getting Started With Statements‘Tis the season and all that, and I’m giving away one copy of my SEN book, Special Educational Needs – Getting Started With Statements.

All you have to do is hop on over to my Special Needs Jungle page on Facebook and give it a ‘like’ If you already ‘like’ it, leave a comment on the page saying you want to be entered.

I’ll get my son to emerge from his Technolair bedroom on New Year’s Eve to pick the winner at random. And if you know my son, random is his middle name.

Merry Christmas!

https://www.facebook.com/SpecialNeedsJungle

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by Special Needs Mum on December 21, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, Really useful site
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on December 21, 2011

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2011/12/21/christmas-giveaway-a-copy-of-my-sen-book/

SEN & Special Needs Stories I’ve spotted this week

Here’s my usual round up of the more interesting special needs stories in the UK this week.

SEN Magaine: Better Futures group calls for ADHD assessment at second-term exclusion 

WebTV: “What’s the difference between a problem child and a child with a genuine problem such as ADHD? – Video « Special Needs Jungle

BBC News:  Slow starting pupils ‘don’t catch up’  This makes interesting reading

Dept of Education: New Studio Schools to bridge gap between school and work  I think this is a great idea- do you?

Made For Mums: Choosing the right school for your child with learning difficulties @MadeForMums

National Autistic Society: Autism journal available free for limited time FULL of interesting research look while it’s free

Not As Advertised Blog: Advice needed for teenage party for AS son with new girlfriend! See my post

The Observer: It’s our narrow view of education that holds pupils back | Yvonne Roberts | Comment is free

OnMedica: GPs to be offered help in identifying autism – About time!

National Children’s Bureau: Strong opposition to cuts to disabled children’s benefits 

If there’s an interesting site you think I should know about, please send me the link.

Tania

 

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by Special Needs Mum on December 16, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Autism & Asperger's, Really useful site, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on December 16, 2011

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2011/12/16/sen-special-needs-stories-ive-spotted-this-week/

“What’s the difference between a problem child and a child with a genuine problem? – Video

I’m delighted to highlight a programme about identifying a child with ADHD. Do you recognise your child from the descriptions in the video?

“What’s the difference between a problem child and a child with a genuine problem?

Watch our webTV show where Lorrine Marer, Behavioural Specialist and ADHD Coach, shares her practical advice on the subject.

With Christmas just around the corner, children are sure to become easily distracted, excitable and impatient at the thought of all the presents they soon get to unwrap.

Along with all the added stress of present buying and manically organizing Christmas parties, this time of year can also be a nightmare for mums and dads when it comes to handling their child’s behaviour. This could not only be affecting home life but also having an impact in the classroom and proving to be a distraction for other children at school. Furthermore, figuring out whether your child is just being a typical excited kid at Christmas, or whether they might need specialist help with their behaviour, can be hard to decipher during the festive season.

So how can you really tell whether your child is suffering from a genuine problem or whether their inability to focus is just ordinary child behaviour? Do you feel at your wit’s end, or do you often think you might be reading too much into the way your child behaves?

If you answered yes to any of the above then watch our webTV show on Monday 12th December at 2.30pm with Lorrine Marer, behavioural and ADHD expert who will give her practical on the subject.

Watch our webTV show on: http://www.studiotalk.tv/show/whats-the-difference-between-a-problem-child-and-a-child-with-a-genuine-problem

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by Special Needs Mum on December 15, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Really useful site, special educational needs
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Posted by Special Needs Mum on December 15, 2011

http://specialneedsjungle.com/2011/12/15/whats-the-difference-between-a-problem-child-and-a-child-with-a-genuine-problem-video/

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