Minister seeks more parental choice on special needs
The children’s minister says parents should have more choice over special educational needs provision in England, as she seeks input for a Green Paper.
Sarah Teather said the current system for determining the help children get was too “adversarial”.
A fifth of school age children have some form of SEN, ranging from physical disabilities to emotional problems.
Parents complain of a battle for help, while it is claimed schools inflate figures to boost league table scores.
About 3% of children have severe special needs and are assessed by their local authorities and then given “statements” of their needs.
The authority must then provide for the child’s education.
Disability and special needs charities have long said some parents face long and difficult battles to have their children’s needs documented and provided for adequately.
Ms Teather said parents should be more involved in deciding which schools their children go to – “rather than just being told their child is going here and it’s tough luck if they don’t like it”.
Read more here: BBC News – Minister seeks more parental choice on special needs.
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About The Author
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is founder of Support for Special Needs and has been a regular contributor since its inception in May 2010. A mom to two kids with special needs, she didn't want other parents to feel what is the often isolating world of raising a child (or two!) with disabilities. Her kids had kidney transplants at the age of eight and will need liver transplants in the future as a result of ARPKD/CHF. They both have vision disorders and learning disabilities.