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The authors of this position paper argue that there is currently very little evidence-based practice in relation to learners with severe learning disabilities (SLD) and profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), and that which there is, has often been badly used and/or abused. More specifically, we argue that relevant educational research undertaken so far has a strong tendency towards: (1) conflating the need for common strategies to be universally used in teaching, with the 'need' for a common curriculum; (2) quoting research that applies to children with certain types of SEND as though it applies to all children with SEND; (3) assuming there is a homogeneity of learning disability among people with the same condition (for example Down Syndrome, autism) and (4) encouraging assumptions that any academic progress, no matter how small the gain, is axiomatically superior in value for all pupils. The authors conclude that there is need for a new look at 'evidence-based practice' for these populations.

The Equals Formal Curriculum English Scheme of Work has been designed for that very small percentage of the school population, perhaps as low as one or two per cent, who have global learning difficulties (GLD) to such a degree that they are consistently working at levels significantly below their age-related peers for all of their academic lives. The term GLD includes all those in England currently ascribed as having severe learning difficulties (SLD) and many if not most, currently ascribed as having moderate learning difficulties (MLD). Evidence of the difficulties faced by such pupils will become increasingly obvious beyond Year 1 at age 6, because the difficulties are global rather than specific. That is, they are likely to affect all learning, but will be particularly apparent in numeracy and literacy. This paper, the first of two, seeks to clarify why reading and writing are so extraordinarily difficult for this population and posits that the answers lie in challenging perceived wisdoms within the education system's predilections towards (i) regarding phonics as the only solution to reading difficulties (ii) persisting over time (and in the face of evidence to the contrary) with the view that children, young people and adults with GLD can make sufficient progress within phonics teaching and (iii) the use of differentiation of a standardised national curriculum model as being a sufficient answer to global learning difficulties. Clearly the main language used in England is English, but the principles and ideas outlined in this paper should apply in any language which uses a phonic structure when teaching language.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR), caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp), is a major constraint to cereal production worldwide. The pathogen restricts the movement of solutes within the plant due to mycelial colonisation of vascular tissue. Yield loss and quality downgrades are exacerbated by this disease under water stress conditions. Plant root systems are adaptive and can alter their architecture to optimise production in response to changes in environment and plant health. This plasticity of root systems typically favours resource acquisition of primarily water and nutrients. This study examined the impact of FCR on the root system architecture of multiple commercial bread and durum wheat varieties. Root system growth was recorded in-crop in large transparent rhizoboxes allowing visualization of root architecture over time. Furthermore, electrical resistivity tomography was used to quantify spatial root activity vertically down the soil profile. Results demonstrated a significant reduction in the total root length and network area with the inoculation of FCR. Electrical resistivity measurements indicated that the spatial pattern of water use for each cultivar was influenced differently from infection with FCR over the growing season. Specifically temporal water use can be correlated with FCR tolerance of the varieties marking this investigation the first to link root architecture and water use as tolerance mechanisms to FCR infection. This research has implications for more targeted selection of FCR tolerance characteristics in breeding programs along with improved specific varietal management in-crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: While there are a few studies examining the impact of isolated starch A and B granule preparations on cereal end product quality, there is limited information about the effect of genotypic variation in B granule content in starch on pasta technological properties and pasta in vitro starch digestion. Crosses were made between a durum variety Yallaroi and a low and high B‐granule dicoccoides accession and the resulting population evaluated in field trials for starch B‐granule content (S‐BG) and selections made for more detailed analysis. Findings: Genotypes were grouped based on semolina B granule contents of 24.5%−26.7%, 31.7%−37.1%, and 43.9%−45.1% for analysis purposes. Preliminary field data indicated three "43.9−45.1%" B‐granule genotypes had lower grain and test weight and one of these, 156,224*2, a very high semolina Buhler mill yield. Pasta made from the genotypes produced acceptable pasta but there was no association between S‐BG and pasta properties. To overcome protein composition differences between genotypes, starch was isolated and reconstituted flours and pasta prepared. Starch from the same "43.9−45.1%" group all showed RVA profiles with lower final viscosities and setback and displayed higher gelatinization onset and peak temperatures than the "24.5−26.7%" group. Pasta made from reconstituted flours showed similar pasta quality and in vitro starch digestion properties. Conclusions: The data suggests no relationship between percentage of B‐granules and both pasta quality and starch digestion for the range and populations studied (S‐BG, 22%−44%). Significance and Novelty: This information provides new insights into the role varying S‐BG content in pasta cooking properties, texture and nutritional characteristics and could provide some direction to breeders to consider breeding for very low or very high B‐granule content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Durum wheat breeding commenced in Australia in the 1930s by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), Australia. Dural was developed in 1956 from a cross between North African landraces. Since then, another 20 varieties have been released in the following six decades by NSW DPI and the University of Adelaide. These were evaluated for agronomic and detailed quality traits including pasta‐making quality over three seasons. This study aimed to quantify progress achieved in Australian durum breeding for yield, quality, and some agronomic traits since the release of Dural. Findings: A demonstrated grain yield improvement at the rate of 27.8 kg ha−1 year−1 up to 2017 has been achieved when generally maintaining low screenings and high thousand grain weight. The recent varieties are medium early in their maturity relative to Dural and possess improved lodging tolerance which has resulted in better adaptation to seasonal conditions under dryland cultivation, and also, adaptation to high input irrigated cropping. Breeding has also resulted in higher technological quality, specifically, improved semolina yellow color, higher dough strength, improved pasta brightness and yellowness but with slightly declining grain protein content. Strong genetic gain was observed in semolina color traits, namely, reduction in a* and increase in b*. Conclusion: The progress in Australian durum breeding over the last six decades compares well to the progress achieved in other countries for yield, agronomic, and quality traits. The improvements in yield and quality are expected to continue with future developments focussing on adaptation to meet the changing climate and improving tolerance to a major disease, crown rot, while maintaining high technological quality. Significance and Novelty: This is the first study quantifying the progress made in Australian durum breeding efforts and the first study that includes pasta‐making quality traits from an historical breeding perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blackpoint (BPt) is a brown or black discoloration at the germ end of the grain and occurs in most locations where durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] is grown throughout the world. Its presence causes downgrading at market due to the undesirable black specks in semolina and derived pasta. Durum wheat appears to show different genetic susceptibilities to developing BPt; however, there are no extensive studies on this. This study aimed to survey the range of BPt sensitivity mainly in T. turgidum ssp. durum and to identify genotypes with low levels for future h feeding efforts. In this study field methods were developed to reliably induce BPt symptoms in durum wheat. Using this approach, a wide range of durum wheat genotypes were evaluated for their BPt sensitivity status in comparison to selected Australian durum wheat cultivars and breeding lines. Only material giving consistently low BPt score (i.e., tolerant, defined as the mean BPt percentage being _ doi: 10.2135/cropsci2009.08.0439