A teenage girl, Charlotte Tall, who faced nearly three years away from school, expressed her concerns about the deficient special educational needs system, claiming that it is robbing children of their futures. Charlotte, aged 16 and diagnosed with autism two years ago, has never experienced a school trip or a proper results day due to insufficient support that led to her exclusion from the educational system.
During a recent gathering at Parliament square, Charlotte from Plymouth, emphasized that children are frequently slipping through the cracks within the system. She stressed the urgent need for actions to improve the educational prospects of kids, stating, “When I was diagnosed with autism at 14, it should have marked a positive change in my life. Instead, my school removed my support, leaving me without proper assistance, and eventually pushing me out of education entirely.”
Charlotte highlighted the detrimental impact of being denied a full-time education for 927 days, lamenting the missed lessons, opportunities, and milestones during that period. She urged for immediate reforms, emphasizing the alarming trauma experienced by children and families, emphasizing the critical need for change without delays.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is currently developing plans to revamp the struggling Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system through a forthcoming white paper. Concerns have been raised by parents regarding potential adjustments to Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), which ensure tailored support for children in need. The percentage of children with EHCPs has risen from 3% in 2018 to 5%, but local authorities are facing financial challenges in providing adequate support.
Agnes Agyepong, a 40-year-old mother from south London, shared her struggles in obtaining an autism diagnosis for her eight-year-old son, despite raising concerns since he was one. She criticized the system for delays and inaction, expressing fears that EHCPs might be eliminated, which she described as the only safeguard currently available for families.
Additionally, Emma Dalmayne, 49, based in south London and running the organization Autistic Inclusive Meets, highlighted the trend of families resorting to homeschooling due to the perceived failures of schools in supporting children with special needs. She voiced her disappointment with the lack of trust in schools to cater to the needs of children, emphasizing the distressing situation many families find themselves in.
At the rally, Sir Ed Davey, a parent of a disabled child and the leader of the Liberal Democrats, cautioned the government that the ongoing SEND reform represents a crucial opportunity for necessary changes. He stressed the importance of ensuring that upcoming reforms align with the requirements of children and young people, urging ministers to prioritize families in the reform process.
Moreover, MPs debated a petition on SEND, backed by over 122,000 signatures, urging the government to uphold the existing legal rights to assessments and support for vulnerable children. The government responded by affirming the legal entitlement to additional support for children with SEND and highlighting ongoing consultations with families to enhance SEND provision.