Latest news with #SpecialEducationalNeeds
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
If Keir Starmer cuts SEN support, kids like my Fin will end up on the scrapheap…it's not in best interests of children
Mum Lisa reveals the best way to sort out the SEN crisis MUM'S PLEA If Keir Starmer cuts SEN support, kids like my Fin will end up on the scrapheap…it's not in best interests of children Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Government is looking at removing the legal rights for children with additional needs to have extra support in school. As a mum of two autistic youngsters, I ask Keir Starmer to stop and listen to families — because this idea will cause havoc and end up costing the country more. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Mum Lisa Lloyd has two autistic youngsters Credit: Supplied 6 Lisa has fought to get son Fin, 11, support, pictured with husband Terry and daughter Poppy Credit: Supplied Like thousands of Sun readers who are Special Educational Needs parents, I fought to get my son Fin, 11, support. He was diagnosed aged six after four years on a waiting list. At his mainstream primary school, he was a year ahead of his classmates in reception and Year One but by Year Six he was two years behind. He was changing before our eyes. He started having mental health problems because his autism meant he could not cope with the noise and pressure of a classroom, and it was hard to even get him out of the house. The school applied for an Education Health And Care Plan (EHCP), which give children a legal right to support, but despite his clear needs we were refused an assessment. I was shocked. Surely if you see a child falling, you catch them before they hit the ground? Not in the SEN world. Everything is a 'no' to save money. We went away and gathered evidence. In that year Fin became a shadow of himself. He would come home with his jumper chewed to bits, his nails bitten until they bled. Children's minister has apologised for failing disabled children in victory for The Sun's Give it Back campaign We got the EHCP and, as a result, the support he needed. The difference between our son before and after the plan was night and day. Magically perfect Without it I have no doubt he would not be in school now. His mental health was so bad he wouldn't have survived mainstream. Now he is catching up and he's got his personality back. Imagine Fin replicated across the country tens of thousands of times. We got the EHCP and, as a result, the support he needed. The difference before and after the plan was like night and day Lisa I know they are out there because parents talk to me when I post about SEN on TikTok or Instagram. Without support, these children cannot learn or pass exams. There is every possibility they could end up on benefits without a job. The Sun's Give It Back campaign has long called for greater support for SEN pupils. 6 The Government is looking at removing the legal rights for children with additional needs to have extra support in school, pictured Lisa with her young children Credit: Supplied But if the Government carries out its idea to limit EHCPs to only children with 'high medical needs', more young people will end up on the scrapheap. The thinking is that the government will make mainstream schooling more inclusive so EHCPs won't be needed. But I just don't accept this is in the best interests of children. Fin became a shadow of himself. He would come home with his jumper chewed to bits, his nails bitten down until they bled Lisa What happens if the money isn't there? How is the government going to afford to make all schools inclusive? How long will it take? What will happen to EHCPs between now and schools becoming magically perfect? If SEN children aren't supported properly under the new plans it will affect every child and teacher because resources will be so stretched. Inclusion doesn't mean treating everyone the same. It means having the facilities and support to enable all children to attend and access lessons. A big class size in a noisy school is not the best environment for lots of children. How will they limit class sizes when schools are getting bigger not smaller? You can't cater for every child's needs. What you can do is offer more support to those who require it. That should be written down and legally guaranteed — and that's what EHCPs do when they work properly. 6 'If the Government carries out its idea to limit EHCPs to only children with 'high medical needs', more young people will end up on the scrapheap', warns the mother Credit: Supplied The best way to sort out the SEN crisis is to make sure children are diagnosed early and quickly, instead of the five years it can take — by which time families are in crisis. Build more SEN schools including for the SEN-betweeners — kids like Fin who are academically bright but can't cope in a mainstream environment. Give children support plans and fund them properly. Money is wasted. The Disabled Children's Partnership found councils are spending £100million a year FIGHTING SEN parents in court, only to lose 98 per cent of cases. Too much money is going to the 'suits' from local authorities. They make decisions about our children without ever having met them. I've seen government after government fail to address the SEN crisis because they do not listen to parents and children or the organisations who work on the ground Lisa If schools who know and care about young people got the money directly, that wouldn't be an issue. Another massive waste is parenting courses councils are using as a barrier to support. SEN mums and dads are expected to take time off work for weeks to attend these before they can get help. I haven't met one person these have helped. It's a form of parent- shaming as it suggests you don't know your child or how to care for them. I also wonder if the EHCP idea has been leaked to test reaction. I've seen government after government fail to address the SEN crisis because they do not listen to parents and children or the organisations who work on the ground. Both Fin and my daughter Poppy, eight, are in brilliant specialist provisions education now and doing well. But it took EHCPs to achieve this. My hope for Fin is that he will develop enough belief in himself to get a job, get married and one day have his own house. If he is happy and mentally OK, everything else will fall into place. SEN parents should be allowed to dream ordinary dreams — our kids just need a bit more support to achieve them. Lisa Lloyd is the author of Raising The Sen-betweeners. Her TikTok handle is @ 6 Lisa Lloyd is the author of Raising The Sen-betweeners Credit: Supplied
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Looming benefits cuts to universal credit and PIP 'to have disastrous consequences'
Campaigners warn MPs that Labour's welfare reforms will 'take safety away' from people who are already struggling to survive. Protesters demonstrate in Westminster against cuts to the welfare state (In Pictures via Getty) The government's welfare cuts will have "disastrous consequences" for disabled people but it's not too late to change course, campaigners have told MPs. In March, the chancellor Rachel Reeves set out £5bn of benefits cuts to widespread criticism. More than three million people, largely those claiming sickness and disability benefits, are set to lose out on up to £12,000 a year. That includes some 370,000 disabled people who will lose an average of £4,500 a year by 2029/30, as a result of the changes. Another 2.25 million current recipients of the health component of universal credit will lose an average of £500 per year from the incoming freeze. ADVERTISEMENT On Wednesday, experts from charities and campaign groups including Scope and Disabled People Against Cuts told MPs that the plans will "take safety away from people" who are already struggling to survive on their current benefits package. They said proposals to slash benefits were worsening "a real lack of trust" in the welfare system among disabled people, who go through "traumatic" assessment process and are made to "feel like second class citizens" when they are unable to work due to their disability. Instead, MPs were told that the government has missed an opportunity to focus on the "worryingly bad practice" seen in some extreme cases of benefits assessments. According to Jonathan Andrew, from the campaign group Rethink Mental Illness, assessors have previously asked suicidal people why they haven't made an attempt on their lives. The department for work and pensions (DWP) has previously said that by rolling out the plans, it will incentivise more people to get back into work. It has also promised to spend £1bn on "getting people back into work", as well as ensuring those with severe conditions are supported for life and never reassessed for their benefits. It will also scrap the work capability assessment for those applying for universal credit. ADVERTISEMENT MPs are expected to vote on the proposed welfare cuts after the government completes its consultation into some of the measures, which ends on 30 June. 'If there was a rise in asthma, you wouldn't take away inhalers' James Taylor, the executive director of disability equality charity Scope, challenged the government's rationale that cutting benefits would incentivise more disabled people into work. "It's bizarre thinking that removing money from people suddenly helps them find work," Taylor told the work and pensions committee on Wednesday. "What we want to see is that financial support remain, investment in the SEN [Special Educational Needs system, apprenticeships, and disability employment schemes," he added. On taking away benefits support for those under 22, Andrew said that "we need to address the underlying problem" that is leaving younger people in crisis and without the right support. ADVERTISEMENT Andrew warned against the rhetoric used to justify cutting support for people with mental illnesses. "If there was a rise in asthma, you wouldn't take away people's inhalers," he told MPs. Jonathan Andrew, from the campaign group Rethink Mental Illness, criticised the rhetoric used to justify cutting support for people with mental illnesses. (Parliament Live TV) The charities cautioned that the world of work is not adequately set up to support disabled people, with more and more people being pushed into precarious work "with the least flexibility". According to a survey carried out by Unison, 74% of disabled workers who requested reasonable adjustments had those requests rejected, deeply affecting their ability to carry out their work, Mikey Erhardt, campaigns and policy officer at Disability Rights UK, said. "When you think about the precarious work that is growing more and more in this country, it is often physically and mentally intensive," Erhardt continued. ADVERTISEMENT "There's no quick fix for this. It is going to be very difficult to drastically improve the world of work for disabled people, and to mitigate the cuts. Precarious workplaces have the least flexibility, and the least union recognition. This green paper seems to indicate that if you can't work, you're a second-class citizen." A 'shambolic' roll-out The experts also took issue with the government making a second round of disability benefits cuts to meet targets set by OBR - the government's UK's independent fiscal watchdog. In extreme cases, he said he thinks "these cuts are going to lead to deaths". At least 69 suicides could have been linked to problems with benefit claims over the last six years, the National Audit Office reported in 2020. "It's quite likely is the trajectory will get worse. there is no way of sugarcoating that," Erhardt added. Mikey Erhardt, campaigns and policy officer at Disability Rights UK, said many people feel like if they can't work they are a second-class citizen.(Parliament Live TV) Taylor said that most people the charity speak to "feel like they're being written off and punished" for claiming the support they need. Life costs £1,010 more per year for the average disabled household, research carried by Scope has shown. "The current benefits system is not fit for purpose, we've seen that time and time again. we know from disabled people there's a lack of trust and engagement from job centres. The system is focused on monitoring compliance rather than support," Taylor said. "The fear with green paper is that safety is going to be taken away from people. It's hard to fathom that it could be a good thing for society," Ellen Clifford, a campaigner with Disabled People Against Cuts said. The government has been approached for comment. If you have been affected by any of the content in this article, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email jo@
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey County Council approves extra funding for SEN school
More than £3m extra funding has been approved for a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Surrey, which could be used to provide more School will support up to 200 pupils with autism and communication and interaction needs when it moves into its new permanent site in Walton-on-Thames in March funding of £26.3m earmarked for the project in June 2024 has now been extended to nearly £30m because of delays with the project and inflationary increases, according to Surrey County school, which is expected to reach full capacity in 2029, will remain at the temporary site in West Molesey until the new site is ready. Clare Curran, cabinet member for children, families and lifelong learning, said: "Investing in this capital project for Hopescourt School is going to generate a really positive impact for the children who attend that school who have complex and additional needs and disabilities."Nearly £110m was set aside for SEN capital funding until 2029 at a meeting on 22 April, according to the Local Democracy Reporting costs to the project include extending current temporary arrangements for the school due to an eight-month delay caused by the Environment Agency, council documents completed, the school will offer SEN school places for pupils aged between four and the Easter holidays, the West Molesey's site was extended to accommodate 22 more secondary school-aged pupils who will start attending the school at the start of the new academic year in 2025."This will provide enough space until the permanent school building in Walton-on-Thames completes in Spring 2026," council officers officers also noted it is significantly cheaper to invest and build state-maintained SEN school places in the long term, rather than fund independent or private school places in the short term.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bradford school children celebrate power of storytelling
Reading books is a "special" thing to do and an "important" activity, children with autism in Bradford have said ahead of celebrating World Book annual global event, on Thursday, sees children dress up as their favourite fictional characters, with many schools also hosting reading-themed a second-hand book sale in the city with fellow students ahead of the big day, Evan, a pupil at Bradford Christian School, said he thought reading "will help you with stuff in life".Miss Rowe-McIntosh, a teacher at the school, agreed, saying reading prepared youngsters well for the future: "Getting young people to read will expand their skills for college and sixth form." Prising children away from their screens and allowing them to physically "pick up and flick through the book" to expand their vocabulary and immerse themselves in a story was also "highly important", Miss Rowe-McIntosh said."I think it's really important, especially being a Special Educational Needs organisation," she Rowe-McIntosh said a book featuring the characters known as Biff, Chip and Kipper, about whom hundreds of stories have been published since 1986, was probably the first she ever read and enjoyed. Also attending the sale, where over 40,000 second-hand books were for sale for £1 or less, Bradford Christian School pupil and Harry Potter fan Kaya said being surrounded by so many books was "incredible".She said picking up books "feels special to me", adding that she wanted to become a writer when she was fellow pupil Sophia, who said she liked Roald Dahl's book Matilda, said she was "really excited" to be at the sale and was looking for books for her mum and baby sister. Second-hand bookseller Stephen White, who hosted the event in Bradford, said: "We started off with about 40,000 books, we've probably got between 25-30,000 left.""We wanted to do an event that gets as many books out to children as possible but also for prices that people can afford." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Schools and learning centre to receive £1.7m payout
Four schools and a learning centre are set to receive more than £1.7m of government funding for new building projects. Derbyshire County Council's cabinet has approved payouts for schemes at Shirebrook Academy, Norbriggs Primary School, the Lea Green Centre, Thornsett Primary School and Eureka Primary School. The projects all aim to either provide new pupil places or support youngsters with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Alex Dale, cabinet member for education, said the funding would improve facilities at the four schools and provide SEND children with "opportunities to improve their confidence, resilience and mental health". Shirebrook Academy currently has 830 students but its roll is expected to rise by 200 over the next three years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. It is set to receive a £573,087 remodel to accommodate the extra students, which will include a breakout space and four additional teaching spaces. Norbriggs Primary School in Maston Moor will receive £215,000 towards a £2,550,000 expansion project for additional pupils. Thornsett Primary School in New Mills will also receive £335,580 to help build a multi-purpose pavilion in the grounds which will be used as an 'intervention space' for children with SEND and a forest school room for all pupils. Eureka Primary School in Swadlincote will receive £300,000 towards the cost of a new £1.8m block which will include three classrooms. And the Lea Green Learning and Development Centre has been awarded £308,000 for a new high ropes course which will include a fully wheelchair-accessible track from the centre. Dale said: "I'm very pleased our cabinet has approved this important funding which allows us to continue our ongoing work to provide improved access for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at our Lea Green Centre. "The new facilities at Lea Green will mean that children with SEND have the same opportunities to improve their confidence, resilience and mental health in a unique outdoor setting outside the traditional classroom learning environment. "And the other four projects will mean much better facilities for students at four of our schools." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. 'We shouldn't have to beg for special needs support' Work on £5m children's home starts to take shape
