SEN parents feel like second-class citizens

SEN parents feel like second-class citizens

I recently described the intimidating process which families have to endure when challenging their LEA’s special educational needs provision for their child. Did you realise it comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, and that tribunal hearings...
Jubilations and celebrations

Jubilations and celebrations

It was an astonishing jubilee weekend, marred only by the unexpected poor health of Prince Philip. One wonders, with hindsight, how an elderly couple could have been expected to stand for four hours, especially during the wind and rain; us lesser mortals would...
Joining the jubilee celebrations

Joining the jubilee celebrations

I was really moved last night while watching Prince Charles talk us through the royal family’s private cine film of his childhood on television, which was not cold and austere as we have been led to believe, but appears to have been warm, fun and loving. ...
Should Early Day Motions be abolished?

Should Early Day Motions be abolished?

Brandon Lewis is the latest MP to say Early Day Motions are an expensive and ineffective lobbying tool, and that he wants nothing to do with them. So the questions are, what real value do they have, and if there isn’t any, should their role be reviewed, and even...
How to Tweet your MP, by Grant Shapps

How to Tweet your MP, by Grant Shapps

I am one of Grant Shapps’ 50,000 plus followers, the youthful looking Housing and Local Government Minister, who marked his landmark figure by writing the definitive guide on to engage with an MP via Twitter. I knew Grant back in 2005 when he was a parliamentary...