New research from Disabled Children’s Partnership reveals SEND families’experiences and what they want from government
● 57% of parents feel they have been lied to by authorities legally responsible for supporting their child
● 47% of parents say they do not receive sufficient support to safely care for their child from education, health or social care
● 98% of parents believe there should be a legal guarantee that every child with SEND receives the support that is outlined in their written record
● The Disabled Children’s Partnership is calling for local authorities to retain legal guarantees and for all school staff and health and social care workers to receive better training in how to support children with SEND and their families
The DCP’s Support Isn’t Optional Report, based on polling of 1480 parents and carers of disabled children and young people in England, found that half (47%) feel they don’t receive sufficient support to safely care for their child. A quarter of parents do not feel their child is safe in their education setting for the same reason and 40% feel their child does not receive the support needed to reach their potential. Sadly, one in 4 (26%) parents report their child has not made friends at their nursery, school or college.
This leads to a shocking breakdown of trust between parents and authorities – over half of parents feel they have been lied to. As a result parents are taking it upon themselves to plug the gaps in the current system, at the cost of their mental and physical health, as well as the chance to earn a living.
Trust must be rebuilt and needs to be at the heart of SEND reforms. Anything else risks deepening the existing crisis and failing a further generation of children.”
The DCP is asking Government to:
● Provide a legal guarantee of support for every child who needs it, so that accountability is baked into the system and fosters trust.
● Strengthen SEN Support in mainstream schools by giving it statutory force.
● Ensure nurseries, schools and colleges are set up for children with SEND, with the right training for staff, access to specialists and support from properly functioning multi-agency partnerships between the Local Authority and NHS in order to rebuild trust between families and authorities meant to support them.
● Ensure reform delivers earlier help, not fewer rights
SEND Reform must mean stronger support, earlier intervention and enforceable rights. Anything less risks deepening the crisis and failing a generation of children.