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Sign our UK Government e-petition calling for early educational assessments of children born prematurely.
Petition
With over 45,000 children being born prematurely in the UK every year and many of them having learning difficulties, it should be easier for parents to obtain statutory assessments for their child's special educational needs.
Extra provisions are provided for children with SEN via the nfer for taking school tests (extra time etc), however unless accurate assessments are made well in advance, and provisions put in place, any chronological (by age) standardised testing has to be flawed.
Children born prematurely often require extra time to catch up, schools need to be aware of this at the very outset of their education.
Explanation
Children born prematurely (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy) quite often have delayed development and learning difficulties, these can be quite subtle or severe.
We want the Government to provide early school assessments for all children born before 37 weeks, enabling schools and parents to quickly identify any special needs and make provision for them. Why wait until problems become so obvious any action taken may be too late.
Some school tests are standardised by a child’s age, the 11 plus is a typical example. Children simply sitting a test or exam alongside their class peers of the same age group are tested equally, unless they have special educational needs for which extra provision can be provided, for example extra time and or the use of a scribe.
Unless children born prematurely are properly assessed at the very outset of their education, and had learning disabilities or delays identified and documented, the likelihood is that when they sit their exams and tests they will be placed at an unfair disadvantage.
Hopefully with problems identified and provisions in place, children born prematurely will be given the time and assistance required, to "move on".
After signing the petition an email will be automatically sent to your inbox from the Government's website, you need to click on the emailed link to activate your signature.
Prematurity
Premature babies are those born more than three weeks early (37 weeks).
Some babies survive as early as 23 weeks (17 weeks early).
Their tiny bodies do not have the chance to develop properly, prematurity can lead to lung problems, hydrocephalus, digestive disorders, circulatory problems, growth restriction, learning difficulties, mobility problems, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing and speech disorders that can mean serious health problems for the rest of their lives.
A really BIG thank you for signing our petition, we have now reached the required 200 signature target for a Government response, please don't stop here... the more signatures the better. Public opinion ultimately influences Government decision making/policy. Alan and Becky.
Our reply from the Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families -
Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP regarding early school intervention for premature children
Deadline to sign up by: 18 December 2008
Once your petition has closed, usually provided there are 200 signatures or more, it will be passed to officials who work for the Prime Minister in Downing Street, or sent to the relevant Government department for a response.
Every person who signs such a petition will receive an email detailing the Government's response to the issues raised.
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