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.
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 government bodies. Executive Director Barbara Knowles has led on liaison with bodies such as the Communications Trust. She has also played a major role in the roll-out of the Inclusion Development Programme (BESD), for which she and Dr Ted Cole were writers.
Ted Cole was a member of the Expert Group for the 2008 DCSF/DH sponsored national review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Joan Pritchard, Chair of SEBDA, chairs the DfES/BILD group overseeing approaches to physical interventions.
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.