John Harris

Thank you!

It's been a very lovely weekend at Camp Bestival. 40-plus teams at Saturday's pop quiz & an amazing crowd at the session about Maybe I'm Amazed, autism & music this morning. Great questions, esp on the govt's plans for EHCPs

A date is set for the SEND rights debate in Parliament – thanks to nearly 120,000 signatures!

But this is just the start.
📸 Join the photo campaign
📝 Write to your MP
✍️ Keep signing

We’re proud to be part of SOCR – Save Our Children’s Rights.
🎥 www.tiktok.com/@sendra.uk/vi...
#SEND #EHCPs

Devon campaigners call for ‘right to riverbank’ after finding Dart has 108 owners Research shows difficulties ahead for ministers if they are to keep manifesto pledge to extend riverside public access

Over the past 18 months I've been walking estates, speaking with landowners, examining angling maps, and trawling online records to determine who owns the River Dart in Devon- finally I can share the results!

Research: whoownsengland.org/2025/07/29/w...

Article:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It was at some do in Palmer's Green (and Camp Bestival)

A lovely review of Maybe I'm Amazed in Your Autism, the magazine of the National Autistic Society

Quite a weekend at @deershed.bsky.social. What a great, proudly independent thing it is. Talked about my book Maybe I'm Amazed with the brilliant @davesimps0n.bsky.social, and a superbly on-it audience. Plus, @divorcehq.bsky.social are a real force... and respect to Brodie Milner & Crash Records

The language used is full of worrying holes. And SEND families will lose support if they lose rights, which is what we're worried about

SEND parents 'terrified' as ministers drop promise to protect all current support — The i Paper Ministers have quietly introduced a huge caveat, saying that 'effective' provision will be protected - without clarifying what this means

This is going well
apple.news/AFoO7T3E6Qem...

Anyone going to @deershed.bsky.social at the weekend? I'll be in conversation with the great @davesimps0n.bsky.social on Sunday at 1.10pm in the Buckendz stage, talking about my new book Maybe I'm Amazed, music, neurodivergence & more

SOS SEN Read our Open Letter to The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, where we voice the increasing alarm regarding proposed SEND reforms. In the letter, we ask to meet her directly to...

SEND Legal Advice charity, SOS!SEN has written a terse letter to Bridget Phillipson, about the Government's lack of engagement its creation of uncertainty over the future of EHCPs
www.facebook.com/share/p/14M...

Hats off

Thank you! See you there

Excellent article by @johnharris1969.bsky.social - and I endorse his recommendation of @stephenunwin.bsky.social's important new book Beautiful Lives

Thanks Russell

Thank you!

Again and again, we are shocked by the treatment of learning-disabled people. Yet we never learn from the past | John Harris A landmark book exposes the history of loathing that underpins scandals like Winterbourne View. It has received next to no attention, says Guardian columnist John Harris

Latest from me: on why learning disability is the frontier of human liberation, & how so much of its history is still ignored and overlooked. This is all about @stephenunwin.bsky.social's landmark new book Beautiful Lives
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Oh DAD

Lovely to hear. Thank you

Further listening proves the new Gwenno album is really, really good

Thanks LK

SEND: DfE looking at where pupils’ needs should be met in new system Government SEND adviser Dame Christine Lenehan says a decision on the future of education, health and care plans is still to be made

SEND: DfE “modelling a range of children’s needs and deciding where these should be met in a new system.” Because obviously all children with the same diagnosis have the same needs… 🙄 www.tes.com/magazine/news/sp...

That's a great literary line up at this year's @greenmanfest.bsky.social , including me in conversation with the great Richard King about Maybe I'm Amazed. See you down the front

The cover blown here: fundamentally, taking away SEND rights is all about the money

The problem with Starmer coming the hard man is that it brings to mind Vince Cable's comments about G. Brown trying to be Stalin but looking like Mr Bean. Or, if you prefer, our latest PM makes John Major look like Sid Vicious

Thank you!

Thanks Rob! My thoughts were pretty fuzzy till I waited a week

The new Gwenno album is really good.

"Reeves to slash red tape for city firms"

Worked great last time

Mixture of reasons. Biggest one is that ad hoc, non-statutory provision has shrunk, meaning EHCPs are the only way to get half-decent support (the majority are now initiated by schools). Start to fix that, and numbers will come down naturally. It's not a case for snatching rights away.