[senit] Urgent request re: Bercow

I was sent this yesterday from Liz (chair of Communication Matters)?.? I am asking if you have any pupils who could give this information, it would really help with the review.

There is a tight deadline so hope you can help.

Many thanks
Trish Davidson
CENMAC
Trustee of Communication Matters

C O M M U N I C A T I O N?? M A T T E R S? /? I S A A C ( U K )? 

T H E?? B E R C O W?? R E V I E W

Dear Trish

It would appear that the John Bercow Review of Speech, Language and Communication Needs for Children and Young People Aged 0-19 has had very little input from any children and young people themselves, whatever their need.

Any information supplied by children and young people will be taken very seriously under the government's commitment to consultation and participation.?

Although this is now very short notice - the deadline is Friday 18 January -?it would greatly strengthen our case for AAC provision if as many people as possible are able to?make submissions.?Even if children's letters could go early next week this will still have an impact.

A very simple email might be?as?follows:

Dear Mr Bercow
?
I am x years old.?I use a communication book/type of device. 

I can (example of what it allows you to do). 

If I didn't have it I would not be able to (examples of what you cannot do if you have no support).
?
Yours sincerely
Jane Smith

OR

Dear Mr Bercow
?
We use communication books and/or communication aids.?

This means we can (examples).

If we don't have support we cannot (examples).

Your sincerely
(Names of pupils, class/year, school)
?

Respondents can also be adults who use AAC who explain what it has meant for them to have the right communication strategies and support in place.

The on-line response form (not very child friendly) and email address for letters is at www.dcsf.gov.uk/bercowreview/index.shtml

Communication Matters?is making a submission on behalf of all associate members and have consulted with representatives across the organization. This will be published on the Communication Matters website after submission.

If you wish to contact me, please email lizcommatters at aol.com

With best wishes
Liz Moulam, Chair of Communication Matters

-----Original Message-----
From: Lesley Rahamin <lesley.rahamin at btinternet.com>
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Sent: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:21
Subject: [senit] Last chance for submission to the Bercow review

Hello everyone
This Friday (18 Jan 2008) is the final day for submitting responses to the 
Bercow Review of 'Children, young people and speech, language and 
communication'.  See http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bercowreview/
There is a questionnaire that can be filled in online, but you can also just 
follow the email link and say what you want in your own words.
At the Fringe meeting last week we discussed sending a response from SENIT but 
we realised that we could never get an agreed form together by the deadline and 
anyway some people have objected in the past to the idea that we could respond 
as one voice.  
So it would be great if as many SENIT members as possible could respond in their 
own words to the call for evidence, even if it is only a few paragraphs.
Regards
Lesley Rahamin

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