Reflections on special educational needs support for Armed Forces children: learning from the Garrison ASSIST Project

Children of armed forces personnel (“Service children”) can experience a range of factors as a result of their parents’ service. When factors such as geographic mobility and family separation intersect with the experiences of special educational needs and disability, this can result in a range of unique and pressing challenges for children, their families, and the schools that support them. This is a conceptual paper drawing on the evaluation of the Garrison ASSIST Project (GAP), a collaborative project devised by schools serving a British Army garrison town in the north of England. GAP aimed to promote the sharing of resources and best practice in supporting Service children. Schools undoubtedly face a range of systemic challenges and pressures in supporting children with SEND, and factors arising from Service life (including family separation and frequent family relocation) can exacerbate such challenges. This paper focuses on data from a series of interviews and focus groups with parents, children and school staff (n=46). From this, three key themes were identified that can underpin successful practice: the importance of building strong relationships with families that are underpinned by trust, strong and open communication (with parents, other schools, the Armed Forces and the wider professional community), and high-quality teaching. By conceiving of such initiatives as a community of practice, schools can seek to ameliorate some of the environmental and systemic challenges they experience in order to offer more consistent, inclusive and responsive support for children from armed forces families with SEND. Such efforts can also promote a greater sense of professional agency among school staff and facilitate more holistic support for families within the school community

The effect of adherence to a Tai Chi intervention on quality of life of older people living with dementia

Adherence to exercise programs is required to reap their established benefits and to sustain Quality of Life (QoL). This study explored People Living with Dementia's (PLWD) adherence to a Tai Chi exercise program and its effects on their QoL. The study included assessment of factors affecting adherence to a Tai Chi exercise intervention, causes of nonadherence, and effect of adherence on PLWD's QoL. This study was part of a randomized controlled trial where 41 community-dwelling PLWD received a Tai Chi exercise intervention in addition to usual care for 20 weeks. The measures used in this study included PLWD's QoL, global cognitive function, moderate physical activity, intention and confidence to attend classes, record of PLWD's and their carers' health conditions, and percentages of PLWD's Tai Chi class attendance and home practice during the intervention phase. Multiple linear regression, bivariate correlation, and independent sample t-test analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between these variables. PLWD's overall percentage of class attendance, M (SD) = 69.19 (29.95), demonstrated high adherence. Moreover, QoL of highly adherent PLWD was significantly higher than low adherents. Among all variables, PLWD's and carers' health conditions (β = -0.64; p < .001, β = -0.38; p < .001, respectively) were the dominating factors that reduced PLWD's Tai Chi adherence, while PLWD's moderate physical activity at baseline (β = 0.27; p = .02) was significant positive predictor. Significance/Implications: PLWD's and their carers' health issues must be addressed to enhance PLWD's exercise adherence and sustain good QoL

From deindividualisation to belonging: the role of welcoming teachers through the lens of Buber's I and Thou

Welcoming a child seeking sanctuary in the classroom can be challenging for teachers who may lack specific training. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a new wave of forced migration increased the likelihood of such children joining classrooms. This study introduces Martin Buber’s philosophy of dialogue both as a conceptual lens and a methodological approach as a foundation for exploring dialogic relationships in Schools of Sanctuary. Buber’s work points the way to supporting children who are seeking sanctuary to feel welcomed and included in their new settings. At the heart of being an inclusive teacher lies the dialogic relationship. Buber’s work opens a window on a variety of ways to welcome, create a sense of belonging and build trusting relationships to enable children to flourish. Secondly, the philosophy of dialogue underpins the research method that has been used to enter into a dialogic researcher/participant relationship. The originality of this study lies in its dual contribution: an exploration of Buber’s dialogical philosophy in relation to the education of children seeking sanctuary and the enactment of the philosophy of dialogue through a relational research methodology

Genome analyses suggest recent speciation and postglacial isolation in the Norwegian lemming

The Norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus) is a small rodent distributed across the Fennoscandian mountain tundra and the Kola Peninsula. The Norwegian lemming likely evolved during the Late Pleistocene and inhabited Fennoscandia shortly prior to the Last Glacial Maximum. However, the exact timing and origins of the species, and its phylogenetic position relative to the closely related Siberian lemming (Lemmus sibiricus) remain disputed. Moreover, the presence of ancient or contemporary gene flow between both species is largely untested. The Norwegian lemming displays characteristic phenotypic and behavioral adaptations (e.g., coat color, aggression) that are not present in other Lemmus species. We generated a de novo genome assembly for the Norwegian lemming and resequenced nine modern and two ancient Lemmus spp. genomes. We show that all Lemmus species form distinct monophyletic clades, with concordant topology between the mitochondrial and nuclear genome phylogenies. The Siberian lemming is divided into two distinct but paraphyletic clades, one in the east and one in the west, where the western clade represents a sister taxon to the Norwegian lemming. We estimate that the Norwegian and western Siberian lemming diverged shortly before the Last Glacial Maximum, making the Norwegian lemming one of the youngest known mammalian species. We did not find any indication of gene flow between L. lemmus and L. sibiricus, suggesting postglacial isolation of L. lemmus. Furthermore, we identify species-specific genomic differences in genes related to coat color and fat transport, which are likely associated with the distinctive coloration and overwintering behavior observed in the Norwegian lemming

Health literacy profiling of parents in two disadvantaged inner-city areas in the United Kingdom

Background : Health literacy refers to the skills needed to access, understand, and navigate health information and services. Limited parental health literacy is associated with ineffective preventive behaviours and worse child health outcomes. People with limited financial and social resources are more likely to have limited health literacy. Profiling health literacy strengths and limitations of a population allows the multidimensional nature of health literacy to be considered and highlight patterns of need. Aims : This study aimed to identify the health literacy profiles of parents of children aged 0–4 years in two cities in the United Kingdom with high levels of deprivation (Portsmouth, Southampton), and develop vignettes to illustrate their diverse experiences. Methods : A mixed-methods approach was employed using the Optimising Health Literacy and Access framework. Quantitative data were collected using the Health Literacy Questionnaire-Parent version (HLQ-Parent) among parents from two cities. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed on the HLQ-Parent data to identify clusters reflecting varied health literacy strengths and limitations across its nine domains. Demographic data enriched the profiles. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews contextualized the clusters, with vignettes created to represent each profile in an explanatory sequential design. Results : A total of 175 participants (mean age 33 years; 98% female) completed the HLQ-Parent. Eight clusters with distinct health literacy profiles emerged. In both cities, one cluster (44% of participants) exhibited high scores across all domains, while another cluster (20% of participants) displayed significant challenges across all domains. Eight vignettes were created to represent the lived experiences of parents within each health literacy profile, highlighting the unique strengths and challenges faced by each cluster. Discussion : This study provides a deeper understanding of how parents use health information and navigate services to manage their children’s health and wellbeing. The findings highlight that a one-size-fits-all approach to improving health literacy would overlook those with the greatest needs, emphasising the importance of developing interventions to the unique characteristics of each identified health literacy cluster. The vignettes developed will inform future research, including stakeholder workshops, to co-design targeted health literacy interventions and solutions, ensuring they address the specific strengths and challenges identified in this study

Does concern about falling predict future falls in older adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The 2022 World Falls Guidelines recommend assessing concerns (or ‘fears’) about falling in multifactorial fall risk assessments. However, the evidence base for this recommendation is limited. This review evaluated the evidence for concerns about falling as an independent predictor of future falls, applying the Bradford Hill criteria for causality. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted (PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42023387212). MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science and PsycINFO were searched for studies examining associations between baseline concerns about falling and future falls in older adults (minimum 6-month follow-up). Meta-analyses examined associations between concerns about falling and future falls. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted Newcastle Ottawa Scale for cohort studies, and evidence certainty was rated with GRADE. Results: 53 studies, comprising 75,076 participants, were included. Meta-analysis showed significant independent association between baseline concerns and future falls when using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International to assess concerns (full scale version, pooled OR = 1.03 [95% CI = 1.02–1.05] per 1-point increase; short scale version, pooled OR = 1.08 [95% CI = 1.05–1.11]). Significant associations were also observed when using single-item measures of concerns (pooled OR = 1.60 [95% CI = 1.36–1.89] for high vs. low concerns). In contrast, balance confidence (Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale) did not predict future falls (pooled OR = 0.97 [95% CI = 0.93–1.01]). Despite 26 studies rated as poor quality, associations were consistent across studies of different quality. The overall certainty of the evidence was rated as moderate. Conclusions: Baseline concern about falling is a clear predictor of future falls in older adults, supporting its inclusion in fall risk assessments. Regular assessment of concerns about falling, along with targeted interventions, could help reduce the risk of falls in older adults