Pictures: Courtesy of Appletree School, Cumbria
Information
Representation
Our Association has been asked to contribute to reviews of national policy and the creation of guidance on various occasions in recent decades. We seek to respond to major government consultations relevant to working with children and young people with SEBD.
We will continue to consult members, represent and disseminate their views (e.g. in a follow up study to the 2005 Membership Survey).
In England
We played an active role in the consultations for the new 2008 DCSF BESD Guidance as well as for Circular 9/94 'The Education of Children with EBD'. We continue to be in regular contact with DCSF. Dr Ted Cole was a member of the Expert Group for the 2008 DCSF/DH sponsored national review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the government-sponsored website 'Behaviour4Learning'. Between 2004-2006 he contributed to the development of NPSLBA training materials for professionals in BESD settings.
Barbara Knowles was active in forging links with the former Regional Partnerships and successor groupings and leads on liaison with bodies such as the Communications Trust.
Joan Pritchard, Chair of SEBDA, chairs the DfES/BILD group overseeing approaches to physical interventions.
Dr Ted Cole is on the Steering Group for the DfES-funded project, 2006 -2009, on exclusions from special schools and PRUs. We have contributed to other important research initiatives (e.g. work by Prof David Berridge and colleagues on services for troubled and troublesome children; study by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation into pupils with moderate special needs).
We have sent responses to government on major Green and White Papers, such as 'Care Matters' and 'Back on Track'.
SEBDA is part of the Special Education Consortium, on the council of Young Minds and a member of the National Children Bureau. We liaise with NAES and www.prus.org .
In Scotland
SEBDA Scotland contributed to consultations leading up to the Additional Support for Learning Act and is involved in consultations on the review of the Act's implementation. We seek to play a more active role in advocating and responding to evolving policy in future.
In Wales
April May Kitchener was on the Steering Group for the National Behaviour and Attendance review, which was chaired by SEBDA Cymru President, Professor Ken Reid.
In Ireland
Dr Maeve Martin visited SEBDA headquarters and interviewed the SEBDA Director as part of her 2005/06 review for the Irish Government of behaviour in Irish secondary Schools.