Is England’s SEN system failing families?
Earlier this month, our founder Amy Allen shared her thoughts on the government’s latest SEND measures – launched in response to a growing number of complaints from parents.
The Department for Education has outlined reforms hoped to improve what it describes as a ‘postcode lottery’ system across the SEND provision system in England. Plans include the build of 82 special free schools and expansion of training for 5,000 special educational needs
co-ordinators and 400 educational psychologists.
But why do thousands of parents and children with special educational needs and disabilities feel they’re being failed by the system designed to help them?
According to figures from the local government and social care ombudsman (LGSCO), complaints from parents about SEND has risen by three-quarters since 2019. What’s more, recent data from a poll of 500 parents conducted on behalf of ITV News Anglia, found that around a quarter of people described SEN support in their area as poor or very poor, with only 30% describing it as adequate.
The research also found that some families are getting into significant debt while fighting for support for their child, with one in five people having to obtain legal advice in order to get provision and over a third spending more than £5,000 in the process.
In the current cost of living crisis, financial pressures have increased even further and 61% of parents say they’ve had to cut back spending on support for their children – some rely on private support but up to one in 10 are borrowing to fund it and a quarter are having to use their savings.
Long waits for healthcare support are also a growing issue and 81% of families say it’s taken over three months for an appointment or diagnosis – half revealing they had to wait more than a year.
Reforms are long overdue and it’s vital that every child with special educational needs and disabilities have access to the resources they need to benefit from a world-class education. Without the right people though, this is simply unachievable.
New schools are, of course, much needed but without a significant influx of SEN talent into the marketplace, they will be empty – a situation that would not only drain vital funds but drive further frustration and disappointment among families.
The industry needs more passionate, skilled SEN experts – and fast.
If you’re considering a career in SEN and want to play your part in plugging a widening resource gap and giving families the educational support they deserve, check out our latest roles and apply direct today.