Young People

19Aug 2020 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Lib Dems call on PM to sack Gavin Williamson for “slow-motion car crash” on exams

The Liberal Democrats have called on Boris Johnson to sack Gavin Williamson, criticising attempts to pass the buck onto Ofqual for the exams grading fiasco.In a letter to Boris Johnson, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran has called on the Prime Minister to personally apologise to students and warned that the Government’s failure to take responsibility risks further eroding public trust in the exams system.She accuses the Education Secretary of presiding over a “slow-motion car crash,” listing a number of catastrophic errors including failing to issue guidance for universities and ignoring warnings that a calculated grades system risked bias against disadvantaged groups.Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said:“The Government’s botched handling of this crisis has caused untold distress and anguish to students, with many at risk of losing out on…

19Apr 2019 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Shocking figures ‘highlights the extent of Derbyshire County Council’s failings in Children’s Services’ say Lib Dems

Education, Health, News, Welfare, Young People

A Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats revealed that Derbyshire County Council successfully defended just 4.35% of cases where Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) were disputed for Special Educational Needs and Disability provision in 2018. EHCPs are for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support. The plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs. So they are designed to identify essential support for some of the most vulnerable in our communities. Ross Shipman, the Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for N-E Derbyshire, said: “It’s absolutely terrible. The Tory controlled council are failing the most vulnerable children in Derbyshire; and in the vast majority of cases the…

01Nov 2018 by Ross Shipman No Comments

More support needed for families with Autistic children say Lib Dems

Health, Young People

A distraught mother tells Sky News about her autistic son's struggle after he was put into residential care 17 years ago. Some of the most vulnerable in society are being kept in hospitals miles from home and some say they are unable to leave, even when they are no longer ill. Pam, from Brighton, tells Sky News about her autistic son Tony, 41, who has lived away from his family for more than 17 years. [caption id="attachment_2566" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Pam and Roy's son is more than 120 miles away from their home[/caption] "Tony was a happy-go-lucky boy growing up. He went everywhere with us, and of course his autism was hard to cope with, but we had a lot of fun." "It all began to change when he was around 13-years-old."…

19Sep 2018 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Norman Lamb MP: No child should be left to suffer in silence

Health, Young People

Liberal Democrats have passed an emergency motion at their conference on Monday, 17th September which aims to tackle the high rates of self-harm amongst children. Commenting on the call for greater support from the education system for vulnerable students former Health Minister Norman Lamb said: “The level of self-harm that the Children’s Society have uncovered, especially amongst girls, and those who identify as LGBT, is truly shocking and society needs to do much more to support vulnerability in our young people. “Our education system must work hand in hand with NHS services and play a central role in protecting children and young adults. More and more people are experiencing depressive episodes, mental distress and chronic low-mood. All schools should offer their students and staff pastoral care or counselling, people are…

07Sep 2018 by Ross Shipman No Comments

Chesterfield College ban political parties from Freshers week

Education, Representation, Young People

North Derbyshire Liberal Democrats call on Chesterfield college to rethink the decision to exclude political parties from their annual freshers week. In previous years all political groups have been welcomed to the event which is hosted by the college for all new students that are enrolling for that year. Chesterfield Lib Dem Youth Officer, Matthew Genn said: "I am disappointed with the decision by Chesterfield College not to allow political parties to be present at their upcoming Freshers Fair. For reasons unknown and frankly bizarre in my opinion." "This is especially concerning givien the importance that young voters played in both the EU referendum and last years general election. Clearly this shows that young people, when given the opportunity can be interested and be involved." "All Chesterfield College has done with…