Education campaigning activity summary (UK)

Training for pre-service teachers

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is reviewing the standards which form the teaching qualification. Epilepsy Action believes that teachers need to be trained to understand epilepsy and its implications for education. Properly trained teachers who have a basic knowledge of the condition, are confident giving first aid for seizures and have an appreciation of the wider issues affecting a child or young adult with epilepsy can give young people with epilepsy a vital safety net at school. We submitted a response to the consultation in February 2006 and are monitoring the review process.

Update: the TDA have published new professional standards for teachers which have come into force from September. Although the standards do not specifically refer to epilepsy, or any medical condition, the core standards contain a commitment to making “effective personalised provision” for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. The core standards describe the requirements on teachers to “know how to identify and support children and young people whose progress, development or well-being is affected by changes or difficulties in their personal circumstances”, and to know when to refer to colleagues such as SENCOs.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Epilepsy

A group of MPs, Lords and representatives from epilepsy organisations form an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Epilepsy. Education has been on the agenda during several recent meetings and Epilepsy Action is actively involved.

In the recent inquiry into epilepsy services, the all-party parliamentary group recognised that some children and young people with epilepsy are not properly supported in their education. The report from the inquiry made some recommendations about education:

• The APPG recommends that each student with epilepsy has an Individual Education Plan which allows them to fully access learning.
• The APPG recommends that all schools receive training regarding the impact of epilepsy on learning.
• The APPG fully endorses the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE) Code of Practice for Children with Epilepsy.
  
• Read an article about the NCYPE Code of Practice for children with epilepsy
• Read Professor Neville’s campaigning paper
• Read the 2006 APPG Briefing paper

Education and Skills Select Committee

This committee, which oversees the work of the Department for Education and Skills, is currently investigating Special Educational Needs (SEN). Epilepsy Action submitted a report in September 2005.

The Education and Skills Select Committee published its report into SEN in July 2006. Although it does not mention epilepsy specifically, it suggests the government takes action to improve provision for children and young people with special educational needs. One of the committee’s suggestions was a comprehensive review of the SEN framework and the separation of funding from assessment: currently both these functions are carried out by local authorities. The government published a response to the report in October 2006: this report explains the government is not planning to carry out a review of the SEN framework at present. The SEN strategy, Removing Barriers to Achievement (2004) sets out the action the government is currently taking to improve services for children with special educational needs.

• Read Epilepsy Action’s submission to the Education and skills select committee inquiry into SEN

The Education and Skills Select Committee has also recently conducted an inquiry into testing and assessment. Epilepsy Action made a submission to this inquiry in May 2007. This inquiry has been cancelled but written submissions will be available on the parliament website in due course.

• Read Epilepsy Action’s submission to the Education and Skills Select Committee inquiry into testing and assessment

Awareness in Schools

Epilepsy Action’s Accredited Volunteers have been giving epilepsy awareness training sessions to primary schools since 2005, as part of the Awareness in Schools project. Each training session includes a presentation and the volunteer provides copies of the Epilepsy Policy for Schools, Positive Action in Education, and other useful information. We are planning to extend this scheme to secondary schools during 2008.

October 2007