Buddy Bear School for children with cerebral palsy and motor disorders
Added: (Mon Mar 01 2010)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Buddy Bear School for children with cerebral palsy and motor disorders - George Savage stunned at no action in 2 Years from Education Minister
NO ACTION TO HELP CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Two years on from an Assembly debate where all parties voiced their support for Conductive Education and in particular, the Buddy Bear School in Dungannon, George Savage MLA today voiced his frustration that nothing has been done since.
Speaking today George said,
We must not forget our duty to the most vulnerable in our community. We made a promise to help children with cerebral palsy on 19 Feb 2008. What has happened to that resolution from the Assembly to support the Buddy Bear School and the children?
Nothing has happened. Our most vulnerable children have been forgotten about amid a mountain of paper about the 11 plus and the endless Transfer debate which has now resulted in a shameful Catholic and Protestant test system and even more paper about the Review of Special Education which is still in education limbo as well as the ongoing financial drain of millions of £pounds on propping up the Education Boards which have outlived their usefulness while the debate rattles on and on over ESA.
Two of the five Unions are appealing to the Minister and the Assembly to examine the class sizes. We have the largest class sizes in Europe. So much for Ever School A Good School. We don't have enough teachers for the basic subjects. We need more teachers for special needs and English as a second language to cope with children from the EU. The sick bill for teachers under stress is rising each year. The maintenance bill is almost as high as the waiting lists for replacement buildings and new starts. Is it any wonder that the plight of disabled children who need early intervention is of no importance?
We will not even debate the costs of the political white elephant of Middleton Autism Centre. The millions should have been invested 4 years ago in actually helping children and teachers rather than building a political bridge with the South which never helped children who needed early intervention.
Nothing, Nothing, Nothing seems to be the rally call of the Education Minister who claims to value all children equally and that Every School should be a Good School.
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PLEDGE MADE MUST BE HONOURED
What about these children with cerebral palsy and the pledges made by the Assembly Members to help them. The school needs about £200K per year which is nothing out of a budget of £1.9 billion. There are ample opportunities for the Assembly to help children with cerebral palsy at the Buddy Bear School. We just need the will and the ability to be flexible. A joined up Government approach between Health and Education must be an opportunity as there is a clear overlap of need and services. It is not a time for point scoring but of actually working with others including the parents and the Buddy Bear Trust . There are Conductive Education facilities in the UK and in many parts of the developed world yet our children and their parents are denied the chance to have an option?
Brendan McConville said “ Focus on needs of special children. Zara aged 5 years needs help now not words.
Their problems are real and urgent. We can only hope that the Hillsborough Agreement will enable the Executive to function as it should- in the interests of helping our citizens and our most vulnerable - children with special needs WE intend to work with other MLAs from across the political divide to seek an urgent meeting with the First and Deputy First Ministers about seeking ways of helping children with cerebral palsy.
We are delighted that Mr Savage MLA, a long term friend of the charity and other MLAs from all parties will raise the needs of our children with the First and Deputy First Ministers.
Children could be trapped for life because of the delay providing early intervention. It is a time for action now that the Executive is trying to find solutions to the real problems facing the community- such as education, health, housing and jobs.
Common sense and honest people will find a way of solving the Parades and other issues if there is real good will and trust. We need out Ministers to focus on vital issues such as making a lifetime of difference to children like Zara Buchanan from Coleraine who attends the Buddy Bear School.
We have to appeal for donations to keep the school open while the debate goes on and on.
Said Brendan McConville Chairman of Buddy Bear Trust ( 02887752025 Dungannon)