SEND system in “urgent need of reform”, say parent carers in Bournemouth
Schools across Dorset will receive a share of £740 million to adapt their buildings for SEND pupils
Parent carers in Bournemouth have called the additional funding in special education needs education a “drop in the ocean”.
It comes as government announced £740m of funding will be used to increase the number of places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools.
Marion Burgess, Chair of the Parent Carers Foundation in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, is sceptical about plans.
She told us: “Any funding from the government in SEND is excellent news, but how far will it go. Schools are massively struggling to provide provisions for SEND and still so much specialist equipment is needed to support pupils.”
The Education Secretary vowed that the money would be used to adapt classrooms and create SEN units that delivered more intensive specialist support.
Marion added: “Mainstream schools will need to build additional classrooms, but some of these need to be separate to existing ones and solely for SEND pupils, so the money is going to be a drop in the ocean.
“Not to mention, government will need to invest in more qualified teachers in SEND and recruit more teaching assistants to support students.”
Over the past few years, the number of learning support assistants in many schools have fallen, largely due to a lack of government funding.
In October, the National Audit Office said parents had lost faith, with many reporting the SEND system was “in urgent need of reform”.
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she "hears the frustration" of parents but significant changes would take time.
But some campaigners have raised concerns around children with SEND being moved to mainstream schools as opposed to specialist schools.
Marion said: “Although some children with SEND may prefer being in mainstream schools, it's not going to work for all so this plan needs to be looked into in more detail.
“There’s also a number of children that can’t access education for many reasons, whether that’s because they have school-phobia or have some very complex medical needs, so I think this needs to be addressed.”