Government denies ‘single plan’ to disabled children with health and social care needs

15 May 2012

Campaigners warn narrow focus on children with Statements of SEN will exclude many disabled children

Sarah Teather, Minister of State for Children and Families, today (Tuesday 15^th May) set out the Government's next steps for delivering a single assessment process and an integrated Education, Health and Care Plan for disabled children.

Support and Aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability - progress and next steps, published today by the Department for Education (DfE), includes commitments to improve provision for disabled children. The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign (EDCM) has warmly welcomed a commitment to introducing a legal requirement on local areas to provide a Local Offer of education, health and social care services for all local disabled children. They are also delighted that the Government will place a legal requirement on health services to jointly commission with local authorities.

However, the campaign has expressed concern that the narrow focus on children with Statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN) will mean that many disabled children miss out on integrated support. Ignoring concerns raised by EDCM and their supporters in response to the original Support and Aspiration consultation, the Government has confirmed that integrated support will only be available through educational referral routes - i.e. for children who currently have a Statement of Special Educational Needs.

EDCM campaigners warn that many children have significant social care or health needs from birth, before educational needs are established. They have also stressed that disabled children may need a range of family support and health services, but may not require special educational support. As the Government is only offering support to those who have Statements of Special Educational Needs, many families will miss out on simplified assessment, a single plan and the right to a personal budget. Without access to integrated support, these disabled children will be at greater risk of experiencing social exclusion, poverty and family breakdown, and their families will be forced to continue to battle to access universal and specialist health services.

Laura Courtney, EDCM Campaign Manager said:

"We are confused and concerned that Government has ignored calls to provide simplified assessment and joined up support for disabled children who have family support or health needs. We don't understand why the new Education, Health and Care Plan is only available for children who have special educational needs. What happens to a child who is diagnosed with a complex health condition at birth and needs support straight away? What happens to child who is accessing SEN provision at an inclusive local school but has significant family support needs due to their impairment?"

She went on to say: "We know that Sarah Teather is personally committed to improving the lives of disabled children. We urge her to extend the right to an Education, Health and Care Plan to children who have social care or health needs - or to explain to families of children without Statements of SEN why they should keep battling for support!"

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. 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
2. Department for Education launched Support and Aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability - progress and next stepsdocument can be found here: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/a0075339/sengreenpaper