MP for York Central calls for change to support for children with additional needs
Rachael Maskell held a meeting in the City to discuss the issue
The Labour MP for York Central, Rachael Maskell has hosted a community meeting to discuss access to support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) in York.
Families gathered at the Southlands Methodist Church Hall.
The MP says she arranged the meeting after a sharp rise in casework involving parents who are struggling to access suitable support for their children, whether at school or in accessing services.
"Some have waited years to get a diagnosis"
"I am seeing more and more people writing to me to share the difficulties they are facing in trying to get access to help and support for their children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). I appreciate the significant challenges services are facing in trying to accommodate the rising need, and know that real reform must come from the Government to properly fund such provision.
"The underfunding of provision for children with SEND by the Government has led to rising numbers of children struggling with their education, parents struggling to navigate the systems in place, and the local authority and other services struggling to meet the demand here in York.
"With the slashing of education budgets, schools and the local authority are noting increasing challenges in trying to address the growing need for support. This is compounded further by the significant under-resourcing of Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), leading to huge delays for those waiting for assessment, and long waits for those trying to access the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that would enable them to access support. I know some have waited years to get a diagnosis.
"We need to see a change, and I want to take the experiences of those in York to the Government, to highlight what is not working and put forward solutions to these issues. I am clear that children in York must have the support and opportunities available to them that others enjoy.
It's a constant battle
Cat Wood was one of the parents at the meeting she told us one of the big problems is that there just aren't enough specialist places in the City: "Unfortunately the amazing SEN schools in York just don't have the places the need that is out there so a lot of parents are having to say well am I going to have to home-school my child because mainstream just isn't an option unfortunately."
"Our child is amazing, he's super loving and kind but we have to spend the majority of our time talking about the barriers that he faces and the issues in the system that stop him being that amazing person and that is really hard as a parent to do."
What do the Government say?
The Department for Education say they have implemented an improvement plan which will make sure all children with special needs and disabilities receive the support they need, with earlier intervention, consistent high standards and less bureaucracy.
It added it had increased high needs funding by 50% since 2019, to over £10bn by next year.