Exclusive: Watchdog upholds nearly 100% of complaints about special educational needs in England
A watchdog is upholding 96% of the complaints it investigates about the provision of special educational needs in England, according to figures shared exclusively with Sky News.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is the last port of call for families who have exhausted the complaints process at their local council when they cannot get the right support for their children.
Amerdeep Somal, who heads the organisation, told Sky News the number of complaints they are receiving about Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has also risen almost 250% in the last five years.
She said: "Some of those children will never reach their full potential. Often children lose years of their education and their development - sometimes at pivotal stages.
"We're seeing complaints about not doing assessments for Education Health and Care Plans, not doing reviews in good time, support specified in the plan not being put into place in schools - and also poor communication so parents don't know what is happening.
"There's been a huge surge in demand for plans. That means more complaints. That means more resources. More children need to be assessed, and that means more specialist input in schools. And that hasn't been keeping pace with the demands.
"The situation can't continue as it is at the moment - we need radical and urgent reform."
In Sefton, 15-year-old Jacob is one of the children who has fallen through the cracks. He has needs, including autism and ADHD, and has not had a consistent school place for four years.
His mum, Geraldine Pollock, says schools keep saying they cannot meet his needs, sometimes even after enrolling him.
Currently, he has been out of school for over nine months, and Geraldine spends her days trying to teach him at home to the best of her ability.
"Absolutely horrific - that is the only word that I can use to describe it. I never, ever envisaged that, as a family, we would be put in this situation," she said.
Geraldine says she almost lost her job because she had no option but to care for Jacob herself, and is still only able to work part-time. As soon as Jacob started at his latest school, she asked them to tell her upfront if they would not be able to meet his needs.
"I thought, we cannot go back to the dark place that we've been in," she said. "They reassured me they had put everything in place - and they actually hadn't."
"When I think of it now, I think 'How I could I be so naive?' I never once thought you would literally be left on your own," she added.
David Moorhead is another special needs parent in Sefton, Merseyside, who helps run a group called Voice of the Families, which has come together to push for more help for their children.
What started as an informal group for local parents to support each other has now ballooned to more than 500 families. David says he was "gobsmacked" by the number of parents just in his area who all feel their children have been failed.
"Parents have left jobs, left careers just to be with their child. One mother had to cancel her own operation because there was no one to look after her child.
"Going out for a family meal, going on holiday - these aren't realities because your child needs a lot of attention, a lot support in order for them to flourish.
"They just push you off a cliff and you fall - and when you ask for help, it just doesn't come."
Sefton Council said in a statement: "We are working with the Voice of the Families group - we have listened to them and understand their concerns and will continue to feed their experiences into our improvements as a service so we can better support families on this journey.
"The demand for SEND support and the challenges in the system are seen across the country and we are working hard to meet the growing need for SEND support in Sefton. We have, and will continue to, pursue every avenue to expand our specialist SEND provision to meet the demand in our borough."
The Department for Education said it accepts the SEND system needs to be reformed, and is currently consulting on what shape that will take.
The government plans to publish a White Paper in the autumn setting out the reforms, and says it recognises the 'immense need' in the sector.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
How thyme can make your hair grow – my hair was so thin and shedding but totally transformed when I started using it
A YOUNG woman has shared how she got her hair growing back in just a few months using a bizarre ingredient. Denise took to social media to share her progress and the transformation has left people stunned. 3 Denise said she had suffered with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as androgenetic alopecia which could have been the cause of her hair loss. PCOS can cause hair loss due to the excess androgenic hormones that people with PCOS often have, which can lead to acne, thinning hair, and hair loss. In the images, her hairline was visibly thinning and it appeared that bald spots were starting to form. So Denise decided to start a journey to grow her hair back and shared the best products that helped get her hair growing back in just 18 weeks. After weeks of trying different products, Denise said there were two that stood out for growing hair quickly. The first was a Hair Syrup pre-shampoo oil treatment called Growsmary. It's specially designed for thin, falling hair that requires a boost in re-growth with a mixture of rosemary and thyme. Hair Syrup bosses say: "This unique syrup contains Rosemary Essential Oil, proven to be as effective as 2.5% Minoxidil in reducing hair loss and encouraging re-growth. "The infusion of Thyme further enhances the potency of the formula, adding its beneficial properties to this powerful blend. "After just 4 weeks of use, users experienced up to a 35% increase in hair growth." 3 Can £39 viral split ends cutter replace hairdresser While the oil makes bold claims that many may find hard to believe, Denise is living proof of how well it works. The oil costs just £12.74 on Just My Look at the moment, making it just 20p to use per treatment. You simply use the nozzle of the oil to apply it directly onto the scalp and massage it in before letting it sit for a few hours and then washing it out. Thyme oil is anti-inflammatory which can help improve scalp health and get hair growing again. It can also stimulate the scalp, helping increase blood flow to the hair follicles. This works the same way as Minoxidil, which is a vasodilator. Denise also said she used Minoxidil on her scalp after shampoo to give it an extra boost in hair growth. The clip has since gone viral on her TikTok account @ literallydenise with over 129k views and 2,900 likes. One person wrote: "OMG the difference." Another commented: "This is amazing." "Incredible," penned a third. Hair Loss 101 HAIR pro Samantha Cusick has revealed everything you need to know about hair loss. Why Does Hair Loss Happen? Hair loss can be influenced by so many factors, from genetics and hormone changes to lifestyle choices. Stress, diet, and even hair care habits can all impact hair strength. It's perfectly normal to lose some hair each day, but sometimes the body can shed more than usual, responding to things like hormonal shifts or even life stressors. Why It Happens More This Time of Year Have you ever noticed your hair seems to shed more in autumn? That's seasonal shedding! During summer, we hold onto extra hair to protect our scalp from the sun. As the weather cools, it's like our body recalibrates and lets go of those extra strands. Dry, cooler air can also make hair more brittle, making it easier to lose a little extra volume during these months. Hacks and Affordable Buys to Treat Hair loss The great news? You don't need to spend a fortune on pricey treatments to support your hair. Try daily scalp massages—they're so simple but really help boost blood flow to the follicles. Castor oil is another fantastic, budget-friendly option that's rich in nutrients to strengthen your strands. Adding a bit more protein to your diet and a biotin supplement can also work wonders for overall hair health. Products to Avoid Steer clear of products with high levels of alcohol, sulphates, and parabens - they can be drying and damage hair over time. Heat styling and chemical treatments can also cause breakage, so try to use them sparingly. Instead, look for gentle, hydrating formulas to support your scalp and keep hair healthier through the seasons. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Huge difference hun!" "OMG,' claimed a fifth
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
What's behind the global surge of new Covid variant XFG – and should you get vaccinated?
A new Covid variant, XFG, is spreading across the world, with Southeast Asia countries reporting a surge in cases. In the UK, the Health Security Agency has said the variant accounted for 30 per cent of cases in England in late June. However, the true extent of the variant's spread remains uncertain, largely due to a significant reduction in Covid-19 testing compared to the peak of the global pandemic five years ago. What do we know about the variant XFG? XFG is a mix of earlier variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, with the earliest sample collected on 27 January 2025, according to the WHO. As of 22 June 2025, there were 1648 XFG sequences detected from 38 countries, representing 22.7 per cent of the global cases that week, up from 7.4 per cent four weeks prior. The variant has been the fastest growing in the last month compared to any other currently circulating types. Recent reports from Southeast Asian countries have shown a simultaneous rise in cases and hospitalisations of this variant. However WHO has designated the risk of this new variant as 'low' and commented that current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness or deaths than other variants in circulation. Why has there been a surge in new cases? The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Stratus as one of its 'variants under monitoring', which means they may require prioritised attention and tracking by health authorities due to their increased prevalence and potential public health implications. The WHO has said the growth advantage this variant has over others is 'moderate', as XFG is growing substantially across all WHO regions. Data shows from the week of 5 May to the week of 26 May, XFG has increased in proportion across main global regions, including from 10.6 per cent to 16.7 per cent in Europe and from 7.8 per cent to 26.5 per cent in the Americas (AMR). In Southeast Asia, the XFG proportion increased from 17.3 per cent to 68.7 per cent in the Southeast Asia Region (SEAR). 'It is normal for viruses to mutate and change over time,' Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist of UKHSA said, adding that it continues to monitor all strains of Covid in the UK What are the symptoms? One reported symptom of Stratus is a hoarse throat, according to some experts. 'One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice', Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and founder of Hannah London Clinic, told Cosmopolitan UK He said in general, the symptoms of Stratus tend to be 'mild to moderate'. Healthcare experts have stressed, however, that there is no evidence that the new strain is more deadly or serious than previous variants, and that current Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective and protect anyone infected from severe illness. Should you get vaccinated? Under UK guidelines, people aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system were offered a dose of Covid-19 vaccine this spring. Patients were offered an appointment between April and June, with those at highest risk being called in first. If you are turning 75 years of age between April and June, you do not have to wait until your birthday; you can attend when you are called for vaccination. For the next round of vaccinations, patients will be able to book from 1 September 2025 for vaccines to be given from 1 October, NHS England has advised health providers. The NHS will get in touch to offer you the Covid vaccine if you are eligible.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Key symptom of the Covid stratus variant as UK cases rise
A new Covid strain, named Stratus, is circulating in the UK, with its XFG.3 variant accounting for 30 per cent of cases in England. Some experts suggest the Stratus variant is uniquely associated with giving people a hoarse voice, unlike other strains. Despite its prevalence, health experts from the UKHSA and the World Health Organisation are not concerned, stating it is normal for viruses to mutate. The World Health Organisation has designated XFG as a "variant under monitoring" and assesses its additional public health risk as low globally. Current data indicates that the Stratus variant does not lead to more severe illness or deaths, nor is it expected to reduce the effectiveness of existing vaccines.
