Info Pack to Help Parents

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 2nd May 2005

Liberal Democrat Milton Keynes Council has launched an innovative resource for parents whose children have special educational needs.

The Parent Information Box, which was formally launched by MK Dons footballers David Martin and Leon Crooks, will be available at libraries and schools.

It contains both local education authority and independent information on special educational needs, education law and other educational matters.

Examples of the topics covered are bullying, school exclusion, getting extra help for pupils with special educational needs, disability discrimination, dyslexia, and how to make complaints. This information is all contained in a specially-printed plastic box-folder.

Cabinet member for children, Councillor Sandra Clark, said: "Schools are continually looking for a wide range of resources to help support parents, so this information box is a much-needed resource which will fill a gap. It will give parents and school staff up-to-date, independent information about what's available locally. It will also help schools to work more closely with parents."