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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 1d

An actual form given to an autistic teenager who wishes to make a formal complaint about the support they are receiving in a mainstream setting. Do they understand the implications of making said complaint? It’s incredibly passive/ aggressive.

Capacity assessment form for making a complaint to a local authority, this form is to be completed by an autistic teenager as consent and understanding of the implications of making a complaint about the perceived lack of appropriate support they have received.

Capacity assessment form for an autistic teenager in mainstream education for the purposes of making a formal complaint

Capacity assessment form for an autistic teenager to complete to agree to making a formal complaint about their support in school

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 3d

We appreciate the pressure teachers are under and appreciate those who do make a difference against the tide of never ending cuts to teacher numbers, increasing demands and still turn up.

NASUWT Scotland @nasuwtscotland.bsky.social · 3d

Tag a teacher to say thank you!

🌍 October 5th is World Teacher Day and we know a few teachers we'd like to thank. 👏👏👏

Our members work tirelessly to make sure their pupils get a world class education. They take the time to make other teachers' lives better too. 💪

a chalkboard with the word tears written in white chalk

ALT: a chalkboard with the word tears written in white chalk

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 8d

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Edinburgh mum forced to homeschool 'bright' young daughter who was 'left to rot'

Melissa Hunter, 31, from Liberton, said she was forced to quit her job so she can educate her daughter full-time from home after multiple failures at Edinburgh council-run schools.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 12d

Please share and complete. The more parent/ carer voices the better.

Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers @parentcarerassembly.scot · 13d

Our friends at Connect - Supporting Partnerships in Education have launched a new parent/carer survey!

Parent and carer voices are powerful. We would encourage everyone to take part and share widely!

Connect @connect.scot · 13d

Parents & carers! Please take part in our latest survey! Share your views to shape the themes & 'asks' for our first ever parents' charter on Scottish education! Tell us what matters to you in advance of the 2026 election! www.surveymonkey.com/r/K3XVL9T Please share!

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 13d

Please complete and share to as many as possible. Thank you 🙏

Connect @connect.scot · 13d

Parents & carers! Please take part in our latest survey! Share your views to shape the themes & 'asks' for our first ever parents' charter on Scottish education! Tell us what matters to you in advance of the 2026 election! www.surveymonkey.com/r/K3XVL9T Please share!

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · 13d

Having spoken to some of the parents at New Struan, I hope that more answers are able to be provided on why this crucial specialist is being closed especially while referrals were being declined.

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 13d

www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/2549226...

MSP to meet with Scottish Autism following school closure announcement

An MSP has arranged talks with Scottish Autism following the planned closure of a specialist school.

www.alloaadvertiser.com

Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 15d

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Edinburgh mum horrified as daughter left to 'sleep under teacher's desk'

The primary two pupil, who is six, was placed on a reduced timetable by the local authority, who her mum claims have been unable to meet her complex needs.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

James McEnaney @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social · 18d

The parent of an autistic child has a simple questions for Jenny Gilruth and John Swinney

"What are you going to do to fix this mess?"

Read the full interview in @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548126...

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

James McEnaney @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social · 18d

"It’s all seen as transactional, and she is just an expense – an expendable expense. That’s the worst part."

With another specialist school due to close, one parent talks to me about the impact on her autistic daughter.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548126...

Why the closure of a specialist autism school is 'devastating'

The parent of an autistic child explains why specialist schools are so vital, and calls on the Scottish Government to take action.

www.heraldscotland.com

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 17d

This, of course, comes at a time of enormous financial pressures in Scottish education – in recent years, councils have cut funding for teacher numbers, school transport and ASN provision in an effort to balance their books, and a several settings have been mothballed or permanently closed.

James McEnaney @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social · 17d

This year alone, Labour's PFI legacy is going to cost the Scottish school system more than half a billion pounds.

Bankers and investment firms are making huge profits while vital services are cut.

Get the full story from @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548084...

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · 17d

A huge thank you to @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social at @heraldscotland.bsky.social for covering this story and shedding light on what is a devastating reality for education in Scotland

James McEnaney @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social · 18d

The parent of an autistic child has a simple questions for Jenny Gilruth and John Swinney

"What are you going to do to fix this mess?"

Read the full interview in @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548126...

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · 22d

@lauralundy.bsky.social @parliament.scot @abshirecouncil.bsky.social @childreninscotland.bsky.social @together-sacr.bsky.social @auditscotland.bsky.social

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · 22d

@closethegap.org.uk @bylines.scot @scotchildlaw.bsky.social @beckyporter.bsky.social @makingrightsreal.bsky.social @auditscotland.bsky.social @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social

Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · 22d

Huge thanks to Gráinne from STV for covering this story and helping to raise awareness about the huge challenges ASN families are facing across education in Scotland.

Proud to work with @empoweredscotland.bsky.social to continue advocating and pushing for change on a national level.

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · Aug 24

Unbelievably unsurprising

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · Aug 24

The joys of FOI data collection.

Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · Aug 22

Please read and share important piece.

Bylines Scotland @bylines.scot · Aug 21

"Too often, we claim to uphold the values of social justice while denying injustice when it affects certain communities. We promote learning about sustainability and climate change, yet deny the link between colonisation, climate justice and famine."

Education is not neutral: it’s time to stop pretending

Strength of purpose in education, rather than timidity, is needed to craft the best possible schools

bylines.scot

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · Aug 22

And governments respond to failures by shifting blame on to local councils. Neither willing to take ownership or responsibility

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · Aug 22

This ⬇️

Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · Aug 22

Local councils hold power.

They are legally responsible for meeting children’s needs in every community.

Yet powerful forces would rather have parents chasing shadows believing it’s someone else’s problem.

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · Aug 21

The stories we are hearing as a group are horrific. If anything the volume of failures anecdotally suggests that this year is worse than ever. We are working flat out trying to support desperate families. The volume of “ dysregulated” already burnt out children and carers is actually terrifying.

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · Aug 5

Totally agree

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Connect @connect.scot · Jun 15

CONNECT'S NEW PARENT/CARER SURVEY LAUNCHES - School Attendance: Hearing from Families about Supporting Children www.surveymonkey.com/r/3SCRDG8 It's complex & challenging for families if children & young people feel unable to go to school: we want to hear from parents & carers.

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Connect @connect.scot · Jun 10

CONNECT'S NEW PARENT/CARER SURVEY LAUNCHES - School Attendance: Hearing from Families about Supporting Children www.surveymonkey.com/r/3SCRDG8 It's complex & challenging for families if children & young people feel unable to go to school: we want to hear from parents & carers.

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · Jun 6

It’s a complete failure.

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · May 20

Cuts to adult diagnostic pathways are discriminatory. I’ve created a template and am urging anyone locally to write, using the template or your own lived experience/thoughts, to the decision makers ahead of the crucial decision that will be made on May 28th.

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

IJB Template Letter : EmpowerED

EmpowerED Campaign : A chance to make a difference. As you may be aware, the IJB recently made cuts to adult diagnosis pathways for ADHD And Autism across Aberdeenshire. A temporary budget was put in...

docs.google.com

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Reposted by Natalie Jade Pinnell

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · May 15

We sincerely hope that parents are around the table. “ nothing about us without us” after all we have to live with the damage caused to our children and young people with disabilities and additional support needs who’ve not just been failed, they’ve been harmed.

Henry Hepburn @henryhepburn.bsky.social · May 15

The Scottish government has backed a call for a review of the country’s mainstreaming policy - @emmaseith.bsky.social reports www.tes.com/magazine/new... #ASN @tesmagazine.bsky.social

Scottish government backs call for review of mainstreaming policy

Opposition MSPs welcomed the move but emphasised any review must focus on ‘actions and solutions’

www.tes.com

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Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · May 15

Why did it take this motion and not the audit Scotland or Morgan report from months/years ago to start this process? This isn’t an overnight disaster. It has been very clear to all involved with education that we are at crisis point. Is the government finally listening? I hope so.

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