This Autumn, the Government will be publishing its plans to reform the SEND system. Fight for Ordinary is our new campaign, setting out a positive vision for a reformed system, but with clear red lines to protect vital existing legal rights.
You can read our campaign report here.
Click here for the easy read version of the report.
And ask your MP to support the campaign by taking our simple action.
What is Fight for Ordinary?
Children and young people with special educational needs want the same, ordinary things, that other children take for granted.
- A nursery, school or college place where they are happy, belong and can achieve
- The opportunity to make friends and take part in activities and clubs outside and after school
- The health and support they need, when they need it
Their parents want the same, ordinary, things as other parents.
- To get the support their children need without an unnecessary fight
- Not having to stop work or put careers on hold
- To have time for their own friends and their own interests
But this is not the reality of their lives.
We want to encourage the government to work with us, listen to us, and involve us in the big decisions.
What do we welcome?
- We welcome the government’s commitment to addressing the failings in the SEND system.
- We welcome being able to access support routinely.
- We welcome emphasis on early intervention & more inclusive mainstream provision.
- We agree that the system should be less adversarial.
However…
The government must not dilute existing rights and protections or restrict EHCPs for those who continue to need them.
What we are asking for:
To make a reality of its vision the government must strengthen support for children who do not have plans and ensure sufficient funding and accountability for all parts of the system.
Which means
- Legally guaranteed support for children with and without EHCPs (putting the current SEN support arrangements on a statutory footing.
- Nurseries, schools and colleges are set up to succeed for children with SEND, with the training, tools and access to specialist advice and support
- Every local area has a plan for how they will provide a good education. Right mix of mainstream and specialist placements and sufficient therapists and educational psychologists.
- The progress and experiences of these children is measured so that no one is left behind.
- Enough money in the system and the right incentives to ensure it works.
This is a once in a generation opportunity to make children and families lives better. Getting this wrong would make it even harder for families to get the support their children so desperately need.
The DCP is ready to work with government and Parliamentarians to make sure we see the right reforms.
What is our insight?
The DCP recently polled the general public on what “ordinary expectations” are. The polling has shown that:
- 94% of voters agree that children should have a school place where they feel happy, belong and can achieve
- 91% agree that children should have the opportunity to have friends and take
- part in after school activities and clubs
- 93% agree that children should have access to the health care they need and
- 81% agree that parents should have the opportunity to work as well as have children
- 88% agree that disabled children and children with additional needs should have legal rights and protections that give them the same education and opportunities as other children.
There is overwhelming public support for disabled children’s ordinary expectations to be protected by law.
Take action – write to your MP about our Fight for Ordinary campaign
Links –
One Poll polling report and underlying data
Focus group research on Education, Health and Care Plans.