- ‘They are just not listening’ is something that we hear on a regular basis from our clients. For many parents and carers, this is one of the most frustrating aspects of battling for their child’s education. A recent article published by the Wiltshire Times highlighted the struggle one family are currently facing to get their daughter into a suitable school. They voiced their concerns about they are steps they feel that they will need to take if things don’t change including not sending their daughter to school at all. The mainstream school named in the EHC Plan have voiced their concerns that they would struggle to keep her safe and feel that they would be unable to support her – yet the local authority are still pushing forward with the school place and ignoring all appeals. This is a story that reflects that of many families that we represent and more needs to be done to ensure that suitable and safe placements are offered to children who need them.
- Some very welcome news in regards to SEND funding… The Department for Education (DfE) has said that every council will be guaranteed £500,000 in capital funding for SEND and alternative provision. A total of £280 million has been allocated to create new school places and carry out building improvements for pupils with SEND and those who require alternative provision. This long overdue funding will be embraced by many councils and will hopefully enable many settings to improve their existing provisions as well as creating much needed new places in schools, colleges, and early years settings. Let’s hope this money is used wisely and helps to transform the lives of many children and their families and carers who have been battling the system for so long.
- For many parents of children with disabled and seriously ill children, the impact of the pandemic has been detrimental. As schools have started to reopen and lockdown restrictions ease, some fear that, for them; ‘normal life’ is a long way off. With specialist treatments missed when they were unable to attend their school setting, for many children both their mental and physical health have regressed. An interesting study by Family Fund was published by i News highlighted that 42% of families with disabled children believe that it will take 12 months to fully get their lives back on track, compared to 29% of the general population. This is a frightening statistic that supports what many families have been raising for a long time; namely the knock-on effect of the pandemic which will be seen and felt for a long time to come.
If you have been affected by any of the stories mentioned in this months blog and need help and advice on the best path forward, contact our education law team for FREE initial advice. Just call 01926 354704 or email: education@moore-tibbits.co.uk.
