In the news
News Archive
February 2009
MMR vaccine: 'No jab, no school'
February 2009
As measles cases in the UK hit a record high, Joanna Walters reports from the US, where unvaccinated children are barred from school - and their parents could face jail.
Joanna Walters, The Guardian, Tuesday February 10th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/feb/10/measles-mmr-vaccine
The MMR scandal is back
February 2009
Claims about Dr Andrew Wakefield have reopened the debate about the controversial jab.
Liz Hunt, The Telegraph, Tuesday February 10th 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/lizhunt/4583540/The-MMR-scandal-is-back.html
Growth hormone could help reverse autism-like condition in girls
February 2009
A hormone that promotes brain development could serve as a possible treatment for Rett syndrome, the most common form of autism-like symptoms in girls, new research claims.
Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent, The Telegraph, Monday February 9th 2009
MMR doctor Andrew Wakefield fixed data on autism
February 2009
THE doctor who sparked the scare over the safety of the MMR vaccine for children changed and misreported results in his research, creating the appearance of a possible link with autism, a Sunday Times investigation has found.
Brian Deer, The Sunday Times, Sunday February 8th 2009.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5683671.ece
Teachers 'failing to spot' causes of bad behaviour
February 2009
• Schools not identifying special needs, report finds
• Disruptive pupils may be suffering ADHD or autism
Polly Curtis, Education Editor, The Guardian, Friday February 6th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/feb/06/pupil-behaviour-school-discipline
Health watchdog reports sharp increase in childhood measles
February 2009
Measles cases have risen to a record high as children who were never vaccinated against the disease become ill, the Health Protection Agency said yesterday.
Sarah Boseley, Health Editor, The Guardian, Friday February 6th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/06/health-watchdog-measles-vaccine
Ed Balls: Teachers fail to spot causes of misbehaviour
February 2009
Pupils with special educational needs are too often unfairly punished for bad behaviour that results from disabilities such as autism or speech difficulties, Ed Balls the Schools Secretary said last night.
Steep rise in measles blamed on MMR scare
February 2009
Cases of measles rose by more than a third last year in the wake of a slump in uptake of the MMR vaccine following unfounded concerns about its safety.
Fixing the flaws in the care system
February 2009
Demos' Constitution for Social Care addresses the need for a fairer, clearer set of rules for carers and cared-for.
Silvia Guglielmi, Wednesday February 4th 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/feb/03/social-care-constitution-demos
Sentencing of Nicky Reilly shows up our justice system
February 2009
The sentence meted out to Nicky Reilly is typical of what is wrong with our justice system (Life sentence for inept bomber who targeted restaurant, 31 January). He is a tragic example of many offenders who are wrongly incarcerated as they suffer from one or more of a cluster of disadvantages - low IQ, low educational attainment, mental illness, mental handicap, self-harming, vulnerability and social exclusion. He will meet many more offenders like him, for whom prison offers precious little in the way of effective therapy or rehabilitation.
The Guardian, Monday 2nd February 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/02/nicky-reilly-justice-system
