Press Reviews

• Debate

  a significant resource that can help in ensuring that all parties involved in choosing a school for a child with special needs are aware of the questions that need to be asked.

• Cerebra

  There is plenty of information in this book and its methodical approach gives lots of advice to help you choose a school for your child... As most parents see making the right choice of school as fundamental to their child's future life, this book is a very good place to start.

• Naplic Matters

  This guide is very thorough and has been impeccably researched by its author, an educational psychologist in independent practice... This would be a very useful guide for parents and parent partnership officers working together. Other educational professionals might also recommend it to parents.

• PMLD Link

  Ruth Birnbaum's aim to try and make education as accessible as possible for the children who often rely on others to be their advocates, is the key to the success of this book. She places herself firmly with the child and hopes that by alerting parents and professionals to the sort of questions they need to ask and the types of provision which will be suitable, the children will benefit. The result is a book that has in-depth information together with questions and checklists, on just about everything a parent or carer will need to be aware of as they approach the daunting task of selecting the educational provision which will best support their child with special educational needs. This book is a comprehensive survey and guide from an educational psychologist with a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. It will be invaluable to parents and carers and a most useful resource for educational professionals, schools and students.`

• Speech & Language Therapy in Practice

  A comprehensive guide for parents in the selection of a school for their child. It gives detailed information on all aspect os Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the SEN Code of Practice, including the current law, range of educational provision and approaches, as well as the roles of professionals involved in assessment and therapy. She provides useful questions for parents to ask and a checklist to support parents through the selection process, finishing with a handy resources and websites section. This excellent book would also provide students and newly qualified therapists with an overview of the minefield that is SEN provision. It will go straight into our parents' library.

• The Midwest Book Review

  Choosing a School for a Child With Special Needs offers an outstanding survey telling parents how to place a child with special needs at a new school. From considering special units within mainstream schools to special schools and involving therapists or home schooling, this provides guidelines general enough to apply to a wide range of possibilities and child needs, pinpointing the factors that go into selecting the right institution. Any collection strong in education or special needs concerns will welcome this survey.

• Joanna Burgess, Principal, Blossom House School

  Parents need access to such an enormous amount of information when they embark on their quest for choosing a school for their child with special educational needs, often at a time when they feel least able to find it. How reassuring to find a book that has everything under one cover! Ruth's book provides a full description of needs, interventions and models of delivery as well as a comprehensive list of questions for parents to ask - all in an extremely clear and 'user-friendly' layout. Her book will empower parents as they weave their way through a system that can often feel challenging and overwhelming.

• Richard Budnyj, Secretary of FOLKS

  Choosing the right school is key to the development of any child and particularly children with special needs. Without the expert help and assistance of educational psychologists like Ruth, challenging the educational authorities to get the correct placements would be that much harder. Hopefully this book will help parents on this journey.

• Lady Astor of Hever, author and NAS ambassador

  At a time when it is increasingly difficult to have your special needs child statemented, and therefore gain access to the right school and much needed therapies that make a huge difference in the early years, a book such as this, written by Ruth Birnbaum, who has helped hundreds of desperate parents trying to access the right placement for their child, as I was, will be an enormous help in providing a path through the educational maze.