[senco-forum] where does the buck stop?

I've read these discussions with interest.  

  The main arguement that seems to be coming out .. as ever .. is that even though the DDA was supposed to bring clarification, the waters remain as muddy as ever.

  What we perhaps should be doing is not argueing with each other but agreeing that this area does need more clarification and doing the lobbying that we are all so good at on this forum to make it so.

  This is especially important as we all look at our Early Years SEN services.  Over the last 3 years my BESD children (3 - 5 years old) accessing my service have grown from 39 to 92 per year receiving support.

  I work next to Portage (Birth - starting school) who have also recorded similar increases as have the CDC education groups (2-starting school).  These children will not go away and nor do we want them too.  they will, however, place more and more stress on an already exhausted education system as we strive to meet their needs.  

  We need to recognise that huge leaps in our medical areas, combined with better identification of some disorders and some social issues give us children who need lots of support.  The DDA has been brought in to help start this process.  Perhaps it's time to focus on the gaps and help those at the DfEs make a better system, rather than one that focuses on tribunals.

  In our Authority we are about to commence a JAR.  Guess which angle I will be focussing on.  Crunch the data and use it to your advantage

  Mags