Janet O'Keefe

Clive Yeadon is an independent social welfare and social policy consultant and independent social worker who will lead a seminar at the Towards a Positive Future 2012 Conference on 16th June 2012 on “What does it take to get better children’s social work services?” Clive has been through the ranks in the field of social work. Now as an independent consultant, he is in great demand as a “problem solver” in complex cases. His education law qualifications put him in the somewhat rare position of understanding the inter-relationship of social services and education legislation, and his breadth of experience means that his work as a witness at SEN Tribunals can be very important, especially where parents are seeking a residential school placement. Clive says: “Most families shy away from any engagement with “social services”. There may be good reason for this, but typically parents associate social workers with what used to be called ‘welfare’, and what is now seen as a service which exists to remove children from their families and put them in care. In fact, not only is there a great deal which can be gained from a positive relationship with the local “Children with Disabilities Team”, but contact with the team may be essential if you are looking to have your child attend a specialist residential school. Either way, this discussion will try to deal positively with your concerns, help you be assertive and confident about your rights, and identify why contact with a social worker might be a wise and positive step to take.” Visit the conference page.

This book describes the present legal process for establishing an adequate educational ‘statement’ of the needs of a child with a disability, or appealing against one that is deemed to be inadequate.  The author has gathered together parental accounts of their experiences of that process and these form the main body of the book.  It does not make an entirely easy read emotionally: some of the stories are raw in the telling but in sum form a tribute to all the parents and professionals who have dedicated themselves to enhancing children’s prospects without compromise.  

This book forms the precursor to a weightier volume which will be written when radical reform of the present special needs education legislation (in England) has been settled.   The road to the point where reform has been acknowledged as necessary has sometimes been rocky.  The present legislation, although working well for many, has caused anguish for some parents as they saw their child’s needs go unrecognised or compromised by provision that did not suit them. They have had to fight their way through a lengthy and complex process to gain the right level of provision for their child, sometimes supported by expert professionals, sometimes alone. 

In producing this book, the editor and her team hope that we can learn from experience and, despite the present economic challenge, move towards a system that is workable and honest in its ambition. We can all (both parent and professional) contribute towards that positive future by making our voices heard, telling it as it is and saying how it should be.  

Dr Hilary Gardner, Department of Human Communication Sciences, The University of Sheffield, September 2011

Please join us at the book launch in Newbury Berkshire at 7pm on Friday 14th October 2011.   Cost £50 including a 3 course meal.

http://www.wordswell.co.uk/conference/