A 16-year-old teenager, Charlotte Tall, shared her experience of being excluded from education for almost three years, highlighting the detrimental impact on children due to the ineffective special educational needs system. Diagnosed with autism two years ago, Charlotte expressed her frustration at missing out on school trips and a proper results day because of insufficient support that kept her away from the school environment.
Speaking at a gathering in Westminster, Charlotte emphasized the urgent need for reforms to ensure brighter futures for children navigating the educational system with special needs. Recalling the pivotal moment of her autism diagnosis at 14, Charlotte lamented the lack of subsequent support, which led to her school reducing her timetable and eventually forcing her out of education entirely for 927 days.
Charlotte passionately urged for immediate action, stating that children are being traumatized, families are suffering, and most importantly, futures are being jeopardized. She emphasized the necessity for change in the system without delay, rather than waiting for a distant future transformation.
In response to these concerns, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is developing plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the struggling SEND system through a forthcoming white paper. Parents fear potential alterations to Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), which guarantee tailored support to children in need but are facing financial challenges as the percentage of children with EHCPs has risen from 3% to 5% amidst council budget constraints.
Agnes Agyepong, a mother from south London, shared her struggle to obtain timely diagnoses for her son, citing delays and inefficiencies in the current system. She worried that the proposed changes might endanger the vital safeguards that EHCPs provide, stressing the critical need for reliable support mechanisms.
Emma Dalmayne, also from south London, underscored the failures of schools in adequately supporting children with special needs, leading many families, including her own, to opt for home education. Expressing disappointment in the lack of trust in schools to cater to children’s diverse needs, she emphasized the necessity for a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.
During a rally, Sir Ed Davey, a parent of a disabled child, cautioned the government that the upcoming SEND reforms represent a crucial opportunity for improvement. He urged ministers to prioritize the needs of children and families in the reform process to ensure that the changes effectively address the challenges faced by children with special needs.
In a parliamentary debate, MPs discussed a petition with over 122,000 signatures advocating for the preservation of legal rights to assessments and support for vulnerable children with SEND. The Government assured that additional support for children with SEND will always be legally guaranteed and emphasized ongoing engagement with families to enhance SEND provision.
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