Ann

I am old enough to remember people arguing that Starmer‘s speech at conference was the big turning point and that Labour would now stand up against far-right rhetoric. But spineless politicians rarely grow a spine over night…

Worth saying that despite asking for more than 12 hours we’ve had nothing back from Labour on this

The SEND system is in crisis.

Many families are experiencing financial challenges in their efforts to support their child with SEND.

Our research shows that some have even gone into debt to support them ⤵️

www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

Thanks for posting this. It has taken me right back. Daughter is almost 18, but I remember the days of the all in one rain outfit, the backpack and investigating *every* single puddle. Time goes so quickly. Those days of stopping randomly and looking at things are fab.😊

This, this, this. If journalists don’t scrutinize this and explain it properly now then they have failed on their duty and will bear a share of the blame if such policies are enacted (most of the public oppose them and don’t I think realise what is being proposed yet).

This goes for you, too, UK.

Today has been a productive day of staying in and getting things done. It’s rained a lot, which means I’ve had to focus on what needs doing, without going for a walk instead!

More worrying than the damage being done to institutions by the current crop of illiberals is the damage being done to norms. Once “deport legal immigrants” has become something people feel comfortable saying without fear of professional or social consequences, that’s much harder to reverse.

Critical Health and Learning Disabilities by Sara Ryan — Stephen Unwin Sara Ryan’s new book, Critical Health and Learning Disabilities , came with some serious trigger warnings. This, I was told, presented an entirely negative vision of the lives of people with learning...

Sara Ryan's brilliant new book.
www.stephenunwin.uk/thoughts-and...

It’s time to change societal attitudes towards people with #LearningDisabilities. We can no longer accept the erasure of people who are our loved ones, friends and neighbours.

Sara Ryan’s incredible new book is reviewed here by @stephenunwin.bsky.social

@sarasiobhan.bsky.social

American media have utterly failed to convey how degraded and corrupted the office of the presidency has become under Trump.

For the last few weekends, work stuff has taken up a lot of time. However, today I had time to spend tidying up the garden. This evening, I feel about 400 years old!

Proud of this. Like sending a thought out into the world. To be heard, ignored or rejected. But there it is.

Imposing yet more tests and targets is what governments do when they can't actually come up with any practical strategies for improvement to implement. It's extremely disappointing for the DfE to get to this stage so early in a period of government. @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

By staying on Twitter but not being here they are cutting off a substantial part of the profession who don't want to post on a racist, misogynistic hate site. It also means that the discourse about education has to take place in what is imo a harmful environment. Not exactly great safeguarding. 2/2

Parents under the two-child limit aren’t asking for luxuries.

They’re asking:
- Which child will get new school shoes?
- Do I put the heating on or food on the table?
- Can I just have a cup of tea for dinner tonight so the kids can eat instead?

Wider reforms to social security are needed to reduce child poverty further, including increasing children’s benefits and removing barriers to work in universal credit.

Read our full submission: cpag.org.uk/news/cpags-2...

3/3

Another key priority is removing the benefit cap, which pushes poor families into even deeper poverty. Our analysis shows that some families can be left with £3 a week to live on after rent.

2/3

Our Budget submission:

The top priority is scrapping the two-child limit for all children. This is the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty.

1/3

Appeasing racists is a fool’s game

Well.

Well, well, well.

Well.

Your point about the nature of GCSEs and related staff stress is an important one. I was wondering if there is a ‘natural wall’ that students hit regarding their progress, irrespective of what support they receive. It is difficult to condense into a short post!

Someone might improve measured against their own performance, but comparison with the group will still show that some are doing better than others. That is then difficult for families to hear, leading to the point about needing something more. Do students hit a ‘natural wall’ in their own ability?

Those in ‘the middle’ might not need extra support, but are not going to fly.
I taught in HE. Not everyone would get a first, there was a solid group in the middle.
In a school situation, do families think that more support would be the answer? Is that easier to accept than being ‘the middle’.

This has really made me think. Would you say that there is an increasing reluctance to accept ‘being in the middle? (I think that ‘average’ is a problematic word for families to hear.) In a class, there are those who fly regardless, those who have extra support, and ‘the middle’.

Pope Leo calls for news agencies to stand as bulwark against "post-truths," lies and manipulation Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.

Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:

“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."

www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

‘We’re going to tribunal.’

Photo shows grey clouds and a calm sea, beyond a pier railing. There is an old fashioned lamp at the side of the photo.

Light at the end of the pier!