40% surveyed think special educational needs and disability reform will 'make things worse'

12 July 2012

Campaigners call for greater focus on disabled children with social care and health needs

The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign (EDCM) has today (Thursday 12^th July) published the results of a survey on the Government's proposals to reform the special educational needs (SEN) and disability system. 85% of respondents were parents or carers of disabled children.

40% of respondents thought reforms will 'make things worse' and 10% thought the reforms would 'not change anything', whereas only 13% thought that the measures would 'make things better'.

Respondents agreed with the Government that the system needs to be improved, but warned that current proposals risk making it more difficult to gain support: 'The message is positive but the reality is that those families that have a child or children without a Statement of Special Educational Need will not be supported by them.'

When asked what the Government should be doing, the highest number of recommendations related to social care and family support outside of school - including social work support, short breaks, child care, sibling support, peer support, key working, etc. Parents are distressed by the shift in Government policy away from supporting disabled children to lead ordinary lives to focus purely on outcomes within education. They called on the Government to:'Understand that help at school is only for 6 hours (maximum) in a 24 hour day. Help needs to address all of the time.'

Consequently, EDCM is urging the Government to extend the remit of the Children and Families Bill to:

• Ensure that all children who have an impairment that requires coordinated support have access to a single assessment process and Education, Health and Care Plan, regardless of whether their primary need is education, health or social care

• Create a 'duty to provide a Local Offer' with a strong national framework set out in regulations with clear accountability for delivery

• Clarify the way in which local authorities will be funded to ensure that they can provide the services proposed by the Children and Families Bill

Srabani Sen, EDCM Board Membersaid: 'EDCM warmly welcomes the ambition of Sarah Teather MP, Minister of State for Children and Families to improve outcomes for disabled children, young people and their families. We urge her to take the concerns of supporters of EDCM seriously. They represent a wealth of expertise and experience that will provide crucial guidance on how reforms can make a positive impact. We also urge her to ensure that the draft SEN and disability clauses of the Children and Families Bill improve the system of support for all disabled children, young people and their families and are appropriately resourced through designated funding.'

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. EDCM's survey: Special Educational Needs and Disability Reform: Making it work for all disabled children can be found here /media/41209/send_reform_making_it_work_for_all_disabled_children.pdf
   
   
2. Every Disabled Child Matters is the national campaign to get rights and justice for every disabled child. It is run by four leading organisations working with disabled children and their families: Contact a Family, Council for Disabled Children, Mencap and the Special Educational Consortium.   Find out more at www.edcm.org.uk
   
   
3. Proposals to reform the special educational needs and disability system through the Children and Families Bill can be found here http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00208753/childrens-bill-family-supportn