Roy Jones

Just been reading all the posts in this topic, I am appalled at the responses of some people to posts that have spelling and grammar mistakes, making fun and criticising the parents. Have they never thought, that the person may be dyslexic or may have learning difficulties, but, whatever, this does not stop their opinion being valid. Stop taking cheap shots, and yes I am dyslexic as well, but cope with it better.

We have just lost a First Tier Tribunal appeal to send our autistic daughter to Brantwood Specialist School. She was at Birley Community College until July 2012, when we took her out because of the extreme bullying she suffered there, along with the poor education the school provided, we were going to appeal to change part four of her statement (the name of the school) and just four weeks before the Tribunal hearing in December 2012, Sheffield Local Authority, suddenly said they had listen to our concerns about Birley and put forward Forge Valley. We lost our appeal, we wish the OFSTED report had been available before our hearing and the comments about Forge Valley on this thread. Now, our daughter is refusing to go to Forge Valley and we agree with her and refuse to send her, so we asked for King Egberts school. Sheffield Local Authority, has said it's Forge Valley or nothing. We have asked the Local Authority to meet with us, but they are refusing to do so. We were on Radio Sheffield's Toby Foster show last week talking about our situation. Our daughter has been out of education for a year and now the Local Authority is trying to railroad us to send her to a failing school, i.e. Forge Valley. We have just been granted permission from the High Court to appeal against the Tribunal's decision. We feel it is unfair that parents of children with special educational needs have to battle at every stage of their education to have a safe. caring and nurturing envirionment in school in order to enable them to reach their full potential. We have met other parents who are also struggling, and, are in conflict with Sheffield Local Authority. It appears that the wishes of parents who have children with special educational needs are totally ignored by Sheffield Local Authority, who in their opinion, are always right in what they think these children and young people need. As parents we know our own children's strengths and weakness, and will always advocate on their behalf and in their best interests and well-being. We believe that costs should not be the only thing considered in decisions regarding their education, but Sheffield Local Authority place costs over emotional well-being. Yet in the long term, unless our children get the right type of education, how can they achieve their full potential and contribute to society, by gaining meanful employment and secure relationships. We hear in the news about education beng denied to certain sections of society/cultures aboard, yet here, children with special educational needs are also being deprived of good quality education, as of the three secondary schools in Sheffield with an IR, two are in special measures (Forge Valley and Birley Comminity College), where does that leave our children?

Hi I've heard from someone that there's a 'grandad law' that says if you'd had an allotment thats been an established garden for a number of years it can be left as it is. Has anyone any knowledge of this? Thanks

Definately Kito's on Woodseats, we've always had wonderful food there and the potion sizes are BIG and the prices reasonable

It is so difficult to find a school that is suitable for children with special needs, and when you do, the Education Department refuse to fund/move your child there. It is expected that all children will fit into the standard mainstream schools, that they will 'tick all the boxes' and cope with mainstream education, regardless of their emotional, educational and social needs.

I completely agree

I always use Top Tread at 118-120 St. Marys Road Sheffield

Has anyone else had flight delays with Thomas Cook? We flew with Thomas Cook for the first time on the 2nd May from Manchester airport to Turkey. We had an eight hour delay, as compensation we got a £3 voucher to spend (wow the price of a cup of coffee). Then on the way home we had an hour and half delay. We got told that Thomas Cook flights from Manchester were well known for delays, so just wondering if anyone else had delays with them.