Edward Timpson, Minister of State for Children and Families, LIVE webchat on Tuesday 13 November at 12:00pm

[TheTimeTravellersWife]

You may remember that we were due to have the previous Children's Minister, Sarah Teather, on Mumsnet for a webchat back in September but she was reshuffled just hours beforehand. So we're very pleased that the new Children's Minister, Edward Timpson, will be here for a LIVE webchat on Tuesday 13 November at 12:00pm to discuss the Government?s proposed changes to special educational needs policy.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/1608492-Edward-Timpson-Minister-of-State-for-Children-and-Families-LIVE-webchat-on-Tuesday-13-November-at-12-00pm

Bravo everyone, bravo.... let's keep the fight going!

I haven't posted on here for ages, but lurk often. Just wanted to thank the posters for putting some really great questions to the Minister today. I hope he has the time to go away and read them properly. I could get on board with change if I thought it was going to make life easier for children with SEN but I am not sure this legislation does that. I did have a slightly freaked out moment when I saw "provision deemed appropriate" was going to be maintained from statement to plan....

But thank you again. I wish I had been half as eloquent in my submission to the select committee!

'provision deemed appropriate'

Yes. I saw that. Deemed appropriate by whom?

But the answer would have been that when conflict arises on what is appropriate, there will be mediation.

And to be honest the rot is much further up. If LAs were accountable and held to the law, then they would not feel obliged to find tactical loopholes. Surely they would be happier too!?

'Provision deemed appropriate'

That is worrying we all know what that means.

My mental image of a meeting between Ed Timpson and a group of MNers - MNers on one side of the table, Mr Timpson on the other...

                            <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Shock" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/shock-7MJQdU1X.png">

Aaah, visual aids...always helpful mess!!

And only 6 cups of tea to share between 10 - they did an assessment and found that 4 of the attendees were never thirsty so didn't need a drink.

Or thab their tea drinking needs could be met in other ways....er??

I think we should stop now

I was just starting to enjoy myself - spoilsport

I reckon they decided that they could make us share the tea even if though it was supposed to be exclusively for us. We don't want to become dependent on it do we?

thing is were you assessed as needing cups of tea? or did the other 4 slip through the net after being assessed? or are they still battling to prove they need tea?

pmsl, I thought the visual had just got interesting too

Loving the meeting visual.

I very much wish that we could add a sand timer visual to the messmonster meeting aid. To help take turns during the discussion. Also we need two trays, one green, one red and then when each item has been discussed to our satisfaction it can be put into the red "finished" tray. And I shall wear a t-shirt with the quotation: "you need to trust us".

And I just realised I forgot the biscuits!

Only three....you have to go to mediation for more?

Well, I imagine 'tea' is just for the meeting goers with really serious thirst and frankly, I think you lot look alright to me. I see no need for tea here: you're just a bit thirsty and you''ll grow out of it

Damn missed the Q&A today. Well done everyone though! Typical politician especially Tory obviously nicely avoided questions clearly out of his comfort zone, and kept repeating the mantra about "involving parents earlier".

IE nice work on invite to meet MNers! Anyone holding their breath for this?

Nah, these folk like to talk about consultation and meeting parents etc but it is usually in a nicely organised way via friendly 'parent groups' etc.

I saw no depth of knowledge or understanding about the system and all the difficult questions were completely ignored.

Disappointing answers, was frantically trying to type on my phone - but i thought you all rocked! Ace questions. Look how far we have all come from tentative new posters to cross examining a Minister!

The involve parents early stuff was crap though - we were told our application for SA assessment was premature and to bog off for 9 months until DS was entitled to a free nursery place at 3! The last thing the LA wants is for parents to become involved earlier, they just see that as having to pay for SN provision for longer and not to be encouraged.

I was kind of imagining 'the thick of it' shenanigans going on behind the very limited responses! Anyone watch it?

An omnishambles

Star, your comments about someone observing, someone starting a file, someone liaising, ect, had me laughing out loud, so painfully true!
And lI ike the image of "In the thick of It" frantic advice in the background.
I think that we all put our points across very well; but will anything come of it?
I am beginning to increasingly fear for DDs future....