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Two specialist Covid vaccination clinics for people with learning disabilities are to be held in Leicestershire. Local health bosses said the sessions would provide a calm environment, longer appointment times and extra support. Pre-booked visitors can receive their first, second or booster jabs. They will take place at Loughborough Hospital later and at Leicester’s Peepul Centre on 15 December.

The number of people with autism and learning disabilities held in long-term segregation has risen by more than 29 per cent in two years. The figures emerged from a House of Lords debate about plans to get people with autism and learning disabilities out of long-stay hospitals. Former psychiatrist Baroness Hollins challenged the UK Government to prevent people from ending up in hospitals when assessments recommend they live in the community.

Special Needs Jungle (SNJ) is calling for people from non-white British backgrounds to be heard in the forthcoming SEND review. It writes: “the word “inclusive” is often used in the SEND sector, and, just as often, it fails to materialise. For families from ethnic backgrounds, it’s even less likely to be their experience of additional needs support within education.

As part of its 75th anniversary, mencap commissioned some research about perceptions of the1.5 million people in the UK who have a learning disability. Two-thirds of Brits do not know what a learning disability is.

• 40% of people surveyed thought dyslexia was a learning disability.
• 28% thought a learning disability related to a mental health issue.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance have been working with EE on their PhoneSmart Licence, a free online course that ensures kids getting their first phone know how to stay safe and be kind online. The course features four modules; Online Hate, Digital Wellbeing, Staying Safe Online and Digital and Media Literacy. They have also collated some of the best online resources for parents to help the conversation about phone safety with their children. It’s completely free for parents to give to their children before they receive their first phone. It’s available no matter what network your phone is on.