Sharon L. Smith

Sharon L. Smith

@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

‘Dr. mum’. Learning about: ‘wacky philosophies’, creative research approaches, education, disability, inclusion, (not)belonging, becoming, co-production, risk/vulnerability, policy, Down syndrome. Co-director Special Needs Jungle https://linktr.ee/sharonls

973 followers961 following118 posts

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Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

Pinned post: This Bluesky account is based on my own personal views. Sharing posts ≠ endorsement, it might just be that I find something interesting or useful to have on my feed. I reserve the right to delete posts because I either change my mind or want to tidy up my feed. Please be kind. Thanks 😊

Sharon L. Smith reposted

Tania Tirraoro
@tanialt.bsky.social

A very important read

Special Needs Jungle@spcialndsjungle.bsky.social

NEW POST: Where did the DfE's ideas for #SENDreform come from? @sharonlsmith.bsky.social pulls together various discussions about 'functioning' and thinks this, and the controversial biopsychosocial model of disability, may be what is going unspoken: www.specialneedsjungle.com/send-reforms...

Sharon L. Smith reposted

Anne Murphy
@drannemurphy.bsky.social

Replying to @isabellefk.bsky.social

Replacing policy changes with exhortations to overburdened individual teachers to ‘become more inclusive’ is a great way to *pretend* to change things. Imagine if basic ‘reasonable adjustments’ for uniform, handwriting or homework had the same national prominence as the mobile phone directive.

Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: Melissa Hayhurst, who, with her disabled daughter, has launched a judicial review of the DfE's SEND consultation, explains why Jessica's experience means they'll take the fight wherever it needs to go www.specialneedsjungle.com/daughters-se...

specialneedsjungle.comWhy my daughter's SEND experience means we'll take this consultation judicial review fight wherever it needs to go — Special Needs JungleSpecial Needs Jungle provides parent-centred information, news, special needs resources and informed opinion about SEND - Special educational needs and disability, Education, Health and Care Plans, EH...
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: Journalist Eduardo Reyes, MC'd the London #SaveSENDLegalRights protest. Eduardo, husband of SNJ columnist Catriona Moore, speaks about his experience fronting the highly emotional event www.specialneedsjungle.com/why-would-an...

specialneedsjungle.com"Why would anyone in government think that was an okay idea?" #SaveSENDLegalRights — Special Needs JungleNEW POST: Journalist Eduardo Reyes, MC'd the London #SaveSENDLegalRights protest and speaks about fronting the highly emotional event
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: New guidance on campaigning by parent carer forum members, published by the charity Contact, is provoking outrage. PCF member and SNJ Co-Director, Renata Watts asks: Will PCFs go quietly from co-production to compliance? www.specialneedsjungle.com/parent-carer...

specialneedsjungle.comParent Carer Forums: from co-production to compliance — Special Needs JungleSpecial Needs Jungle provides parent-centred information, news, special needs resources and informed opinion about SEND - Special educational needs and disability, Education, Health and Care Plans, EH...
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: SNJ is hosting a WEBINAR with Department for Education SEND Minister Georgia Gould - MP for Queen's Park and Maida Vale on the Schools White Paper SEND reform proposals. Wednesday May 13th 7-8pm. REGISTER NOW! www.specialneedsjungle.com/send-webinar... #sendreform

specialneedsjungle.comSEND WEBINAR: With SNJ and Minister Georgia Gould, Wednesday May 13th 7-8pm. REGISTER NOW! — Special Needs JungleSNJis hosting a WEBINAR with SEND Minister Georgia Gould, on the White Paper SEND reform proposals. Wednesday May 13th 7-8pm. REGISTER NOW!
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: A good idea built on wishful thinking and shaky foundations. Matt Keer looks at the Department for Education's Experts At Hand SEND plan: big funding, unclear delivery, weak accountability, and a serious shortage of specialists www.specialneedsjungle.com/experts-at-h...

specialneedsjungle.comExperts At Hand: A good idea built on wishful thinking and shaky foundations — Special Needs JungleMatt Keer looks at the DfE's Experts At Hand SEND plan: big funding, unclear delivery, weak accountability and a serious specialists shortage
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: Matt Walker of the National Foundation for Educational Research discusses their research into the benefits and risks of Mainstream Inclusion Bases: Can they help solve the SEND crisis? www.specialneedsjungle.com/inclusion-ba...

specialneedsjungle.comInclusion bases: Can they help solve the SEND crisis? - Special Needs JungleA guest post today from the NFER about their research into the benefits and risks of Inclusion bases: Can they help solve the SEND crisis?
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: Where will all the teaching assistants come from? SNJ's Tania gathers together research exposing the reality gap in the government SEND plans www.specialneedsjungle.com/where-teachi...

specialneedsjungle.comWhere will all the teaching assistants come from? The research exposing the reality gap in the government SEND plans - Special Needs JungleWhere will all the teaching assistants come from? Tania gathers together research exposing the reality gap in the government SEND plans
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

WEBINAR RECORDING: SNJ's Legal Round Table on the #SEND Proposals in the Schools White Paper, with expert SEND solicitors, Hayley Mason Seager, Polly Sweeney, Eleanor Wright, and Kate Cox. Led by the SNJ team www.specialneedsjungle.com/webinar-reco...

specialneedsjungle.comWEBINAR RECORDING! The legal implications of the Schools White Paper’s SEND Proposals - Special Needs JungleWEBINAR RECORDING: SNJ's Legal Round Table on the SEND Proposals in the Schools White Paper, with four expert SEND solicitors.
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: Our fabulous new SNJ team member, Frances Akinde discusses the SENCO as gatekeeper and how the White Paper proposals bring responsibility for opening doors, not closing them… www.specialneedsjungle.com/senco-gateke...

specialneedsjungle.comThe SENCO as gatekeeper: The White Paper proposals bring a responsibility of opening doors, not closing them - Special Needs JungleFrances Akinde discusses the SENCO as gatekeeper and how the White Paper proposals bring responsibility for opening doors, not closing them…
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: Eleanor Wright, Legal Officer with SEND law charity, SOS SEN asks sceptically if SEND lawyers are REALLY opposing the Government’s reform proposals just to protect their “vested interests” as Bridget Phillipson claims? www.specialneedsjungle.com/send-lawyers...

specialneedsjungle.comAre SEND lawyers REALLY opposing the Government’s reform proposals just to protect their “vested interests”? - Special Needs JungleEleanor Wright asks if SEND lawyers are REALLY opposing the Government’s proposals just to protect their “vested interests” as claimed?
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: Matt Keer writes about what SEND accountability will look like if the proposals go through. He says it’ll be a system that marks its own homework—and that’s not good for families www.specialneedsjungle.com/accountabili...

specialneedsjungle.comAccountability after SEND Reform: A system that marks its own homework - Special Needs JungleMatt Keer writes about what SEND accountability will look like if the proposals go through: a system that marks its own homework
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: A parent has launched a legal challenge against the Schools White Paper's SEND consultation. Catriona Moore writes about Melissa Hayhurst's claim that the plans are an “irrational, unfair” fundamental change www.specialneedsjungle.com/legal-challe...

specialneedsjungle.comLegal challenge launched against government SEND proposals that “significantly weaken the legal rights of children and young people” - Special Needs JungleA legal challenge is launched claiming the Schools White Paper SEND proposals are “irrational, unfair” and “significantly weaken rights
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: The SEND reforms in the Schools White Paper reveal rights given, and rights stripped away— here is our initial overview www.specialneedsjungle.com/send-reforms... #SaveOurChildrensRights

specialneedsjungle.comThe SEND reforms in the Schools White Paper reveal rights given, and rights stripped away - Special Needs JungleThe SEND reforms in the Schools White Paper reveal rights given, and rights stripped away— here is our initial overview
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

SNJ NEW POST: After yesterday’s horrors, we take a calm look at that and some baffling independent school funding news. We say The Department for Education needs a plumber, better policymakers, less panic, and someone who truly understands SEND www.specialneedsjungle.com/dfe-needs-pl...

specialneedsjungle.comThe Department for Education needs a plumber, better policymakers, less panic, and someone who truly understands SEND - Special Needs JungleSome baffling independent school funding news plus the DfE needs a plumber, good policymakers, no panic, and someone who understands SEND
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: We’ve had a few SEND funding-related announcements recently. SNJ’s Matt explains the cash splash: What it means and if it’ll improve provision… www.specialneedsjungle.com/send-cash-wi...

specialneedsjungle.comSEND cash splash: What does it all add up to—and will ditching debt improve provision? - Special Needs JungleWe’ve had a few SEND funding announcements recently. SNJ’s Matt explains the cash splash: What it means and if it’ll improve provision…

Sharon L. Smith reposted

Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE)
@allfieuk.bsky.social

ALLFIE’s Coalition for Inclusive Education has written to Schools Minister @georgiagould.bsky.social with concerns about systemic and structural barriers that push Disabled children and young people out of mainstream education, ahead of the SEND Schools White Paper: www.allfie.org.uk/briefings/mi...

allfie.org.ukLetter to Georgia Gould MP, Minister of State for School Standards - ALLFIEALLFIE's Coalition for Inclusive Education has written to the Schools Minister, Georgia Gould MP, expressing concerns about systemic and structural barriers that push Disabled children and young…
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: More government announcements today—this time changing mainstream units and resourced provision to “Inclusion Bases”: a new label, a big ambition, same unanswered questions www.specialneedsjungle.com/inclusion-ba...

specialneedsjungle.comInclusion bases: a new label, a big ambition, same unanswered questions - Special Needs JungleMore government announcements—this time changing units and resourced provision to “Inclusion Bases”: new label, same unanswered questions

Sharon L. Smith reposted

John Harris
@johnharris1969.bsky.social

Latest from me, and one of the most important pieces on Special Needs I've written so far: "In fifteen years of political journalism, I don’t think I have seen anything quite like this: a mad game of briefing, counter-briefing and official stonewalling." maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/why-the-po...

maybeimamazed.substack.comWhy the politics of media leaks, briefings and "sources" is only spreading dread and fearThe painfully long story of the government's SEND reforms has pushed exactly those buttons, among people already used to a level of anxiety that may soon get even worse
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST: The National Education Union announces support for the Save Our Children’s Rights campaign to protect SEND legal rights! www.specialneedsjungle.com/national-edu... #saveourchildrensrights

specialneedsjungle.comNational Education Union announces support for the #SaveOurChildrensRights campaign to protect SEND legal rights - Special Needs JungleNational Education Union announces support for the #SaveOurChildren’sRights campaign to protect SEND legal rights
Sharon L. Smith
@sharonlsmith.bsky.social

NEW POST Why the Government’s “SEND conversation” fell flat with parents: It’s failing to learn from voices of past experience www.specialneedsjungle.com/why-governme...

specialneedsjungle.comWhy the Government’s “SEND conversation” fell flat with parents: It’s failing to learn from voices of past experience - Special Needs JungleWhy the Government’s “SEND conversation” fell flat with parents: It’s failing to learn from voices of past experience

Sharon L. Smith reposted

Special Needs Jungle
@spcialndsjungle.bsky.social

“SEND: Opening resource bases ‘risks making you a magnet school’” Inclusion must not be optional. It must be defined by national criteria that can’t be fudged when Ofsted comes round—and heads must face losing their jobs if they fail to meet them. www.tes.com/magazine/news/ge...

tes.comSEND: Opening resource bases ‘risks making you a magnet school’With the government encouraging mainstream schools to open specialist bases for pupils with SEND, headteachers have warned that doing so can risk becoming a 'magnet school' and therefore coming under increased pressure

Sharon L. Smith reposted

Special Needs Jungle
@spcialndsjungle.bsky.social

In their latest attack on EHCPS, LAs say schools are fighting attempts to place SEND children, some claiming an EHCP is an easy way to say they cannot meet needs. No EHCP=you’d never know why they refused, or they’ll exclude later #SaveOurChildrensRights schoolsweek.co.uk/enforcemen...

schoolsweek.co.ukThreats and place ‘caps’: Councils reveal admission woesWatchdog report shows widespread clashes between councils and academy trusts as Labour plans admission reforms

Sharon L. Smith reposted

Pete Quily
@pqpolitics.bsky.social

The right to an education, health and care plan must be retained Jane Asher, Carrie Grant, Chris Packham, Anna Bird, Fazilet Hadi, Sally Phillips, Jon Sparkes and 100 others call on gov not to remove the right to an EHCP from kids attending mainstream schools www.theguardian.com/education/20...

theguardian.comThe right to an education, health and care plan must be retained | LettersLetter: Jane Asher, Carrie Grant, Chris Packham, Anna Bird, Fazilet Hadi, Sally Phillips, Jon Sparkes and 100 others call on the government not to remove the right to an EHCP from children attending m...

Sharon L. Smith reposted

The Guardian
@theguardian.com

Minister won’t rule out support cuts for children with EHCPs amid Send overhaul – UK politics live – UK politics live

theguardian.comMinister won’t rule out support cuts for children with EHCPs amid Send overhaul – UK politics live – UK politics liveStephen Morgan, the early education minister, would not confirm every child who has an EHCP would continue to keep the same provisions Here is the letter to the Guardian, signed by dozens of special needs and disability charities and campaigners, that is covered in our splash story about opposition to proposals to restrict access to education, health and care plans (EHCPs). (See 9.34am.) Here is John Harris’s column on the topic. Continue reading...