To be annoyed about this labelling of children

[BlotOnTheLandscape]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-29459303

This is going to provide more ammunition for those parents who think all children with disabilities should not be in mainstream school. Children are children, some behave well, some don't, it annoys me that this is being linked to disability (and the criteria they have used for disability seems a bit dodgy too) and not how well, or otherwise, schools are providing for all children.

i got as far as "children with challenges" before i gave up while i agree children with sen do have a harder time adjusting to a school environment sometimes but not always my eldest has "challenges" she thrives in a school environment

I read the report but to be honest couldn't find anything to be annoyed about.
I have two disabled dc myself and agree with the article that there are many ways in which schools could improve to become more inclusive towards children with disabilities.
My DS has struggled at primary school with being bullied due to his differences, with his own behaviour as a result of being bullied and being unsure how to socialise with his peers and also with support from teachers that was tailored for him as an individual.
Now he's at a secondary school which is extremely inclusive and goes the extra mile to cater for students with disabilities; he's thriving.

Seems odd to lump all "disabled children" in together when there are so many ways a child may be disabled.

Some statements in this article are so vague as to be meaningless anyway. "Disabled children can struggle on multiple fronts in school"? Well, so can anyone!

I don't think it's annoying, I think the research has proved what was already common sense, and the article clearly places the onus on schools to recognise these vunerable children's issues in adjusting to school life and to intervene and assist at a very early stage

I think what annoyed me was that it seemed to be blaming the children and not the schools when they need to be providing as suitable environment.

I saw that earlier.
It's not at all well worded unless you read the whole article carefully.

A quick glance just gives 'disabled children behave badly at school'

Well, I'm one of those parents who did NOT want their SEN child in mainstream......and I fought like stink to get him into a special school. He was disrupting the class daily and it was having an effect on the other children........let alone the gate mums who stopped speaking to me.

What are you annoyed about? The term "label" is offensive. What's wrong with a child getting a diagnoses? That's what these so-called "labels" are! Diagnoses which enable them to access help and understanding if their disability is not visible.

Whats annoying? I read it and just thought "no shit, sherlock?"

many children with SEN cannot deal with mainstream school at all. Its a massive problem. Nobody wins

So all disabled children get hyper at school! Complete generalisation! Plenty of children with disabilities are not able to get hyper because that is exactly the effect of their disability!

Don't get me started on schools and disability policies, my DSiL, who has a disability and works in disability access, was telling me that schools are allowed to declare that a school does not have sufficient access after a child has joined the school, even if the child is not struggling. She has heard of Year 1 children suddenly being told to go elsewhere, after a full year of Reception with their friends, because the school is apparently struggling!

it is very generalised, thats true, and of course there arent many things in life that are true for all people

I found it laughable that they present this as "news". I have two with ASD and live it daily as do many of the people I know through support groups and the fact that I am forced to HE my son because of the difficulties described. Am surprised it even found its way onto the website. Once again lots of talking about it and not actual doing anything about it, because no one gives a shit unless directly affected.

SN and SEN are two different things, please let's not get them confused.

I have a son with SN who attends a MS school. He has a statement with a full time 1:1. When he first started school we were told he would only do a few years in a MS setting, however he flourished in MS and is still there 7 years later, still with a 1:1 and coping well. He isn't disruptive, and if he shows signs he might be he is removed by the 1:1 to work alone.

We fought to get him the full time 1:1 and I was extremely lucky to have a team behind me that agreed he needed/needs it.

Not everyone is lucky to get this though, and that is where children with SN are perceived to be disruptive as they are not getting the help they need, they are being failed by the school and/or the LA.

I think it's a pretty bad article conflating behaviour and bullying without explaining why they are linked. If they are at all, in the context of the report... I don't know because the article is so badly written!

Sorry, I couldn't find anything objectionable. Surely it's a good thing to raise awareness of the extra difficulties children with special needs may have at school? Otherwise nothing will ever change.
They don't lump all disabilities together, they analysed children with a wide range of disabilities. They didn't blame the children, they clearly put the onus on the schools to provide the extra support. And they didn't say all disabled children misbehave, they said they are more likely to have additional problems at school than children without special needs (no shit).

I think it should be judged on each child. Taking into consideration the child's needs, the parents wishes and the opinion of the experts should all be taken into account. There is not a one rule fits all.

I've read the article and it seems a bit "meh" to me. I mean, really? Children with disabilities and SEN struggle in a mainstream school environment? This is news? I thought that had been established quite some time ago, hence statements and requiring schools to provide support for children that need it.

And to say "oh children with disabilities and SEN struggle on multiple fronts, therefore we need more stringent bullying policies.." seems to me to say that their biggest problem is bullying, which isn't always the case.

It seems like a wildly disjointed and badly written article that isn't really saying anything "new" IYSWIM.

Well if they're suddenly behaving badly at school it should be fairly obvious that the schools aren't supporting them appropriately. And this may or may not be the school's fault.

As Nicki says unless reports showing the bleeding obvious actually translate into additional support, and reflective practice from LA commissioners etc then nothing will change.

"Labels" have their downsides, but they're useful if you need to access extra support.

A diagnosis is fine, that's what needed to access support but do you want a child labelled as disabled when they might not perceive that they are disabled?

Who is doing that though?

YY but I'm not sure if the study itself even uses the word disabled - which is very rarely used in education anyway. In Scotland for eg the term used is additional needs, which covers all children who need extra support - looked-after children, bereaved children, children who have broken their leg, children with autism, etc.

In fact it says the study compared children without disabilities with children with a number of developmental, learning and health problems.

I think it's poor writing rather than extra labelling.

Yes, it's the BBC that are doing the labelling. They should know better.