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HELPING PARENTS: Magazine founder Dianne Clarke with her son John.

A PENARTH solicitor and his law firm have sponsored a new not-for-profit educational magazine - run by parents, for parents, and other professionals working in the education field.

After many years specialising in Education Law, and dealing with worried parents caught in dispute with their local authority, Michael Charles, who practises in Penarth-based specialist law firm Sinclairs, realised that for many parents there was a great need to be able to talk to others involved in similar difficulties.

As a consequence, his firm has sponsored the new online magazine called The Education Bulletin.

The magazine, which will be delivered free of charge to all those who register, will contain helpful hints on how to deal with common educational problems, from school admissions, exclusions and even special needs.

Mr Charles explained: "A number of specialists have produced articles, ranging from tips for parents and schools to use in cases of bullying, to real-life stories from parents who have coped trying to assist their special needs children receive the education they deserve."

Mr Charles added that it will also be useful for teachers, as the magazine will have articles written by leading educational psychologists which will provide advice on teaching strategies necessary for certain children.

The magazine is the brainchild of Mrs Dianne Clarke, a Shropshire mother who fought her local authority to ensure they provided the special needs support for her child after he had experienced terrible bullying at school.

Mrs Clarke, whose son is now being educated at a specialist school, said she knew all too well the difficulties that parents face in such circumstances.

"I felt totally isolated," she said.

"I did not know what to do, all I was certain of was that something had to be done to protect my child and help him experience educational success.

"I was, at the time, desperate to talk to other parents who were in similar circumstances, so that I could at least discuss the problems I was having with another who could understand."

Mrs Clarke said that she had been hoping to set up a magazine to help others for some time, but funding was always the problem. She added that for most parents, especially those looking after children with special needs, the amount of knowledge among parents as to the best route to take was in many cases virtually non existent.

The other problem is that because of the number of child cases about the country, it is difficult to find articles about parents who have children in less controversial, but yet extremely difficult situations.

"It is these parents, who have typical stories to tell, who are often desperate to talk to others," she added.

The magazine, The Education Bulletin, will be launched in April, and distributed free to those who register on the magazine's new website (which also contains a forum for parents and other educational professionals) at www.educationbulletin.co.uk

3:19pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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