Children with disabilities across Lincolnshire missing out on education
New survey shows parents have been forced to educate their disabled youngster at home because of a lack of suitable provision or funding
Last updated 3rd Oct 2024
A charity supporting children and young people with disabilities across Lincolnshire is calling on the Government to 'get a grip' on how many are missing out on an education.
It comes as new survey has found nearly two in five parents have been forced to educate their disabled youngster at home because of a lack of suitable provision or funding.
Katie Ghose is the Chief Executive of KIDS and tells us more:
"We hear heartbreaking stories of children with disabilities and special educational needs every day who are at home and are locked out of the classroom because the school hasn't been able to meet their needs.
"To give one example, Alice - not their real name - a 12 year old, who's autistic, waiting an ADHD assessment, is being bullied and struggling to cope with that transition to secondary school, and KIDS is just one charity, among many, that's stepping in to provide that practical support, a teenage support group for that young person and helping them with their small steps to get back into school.
"But unfortunately there are thousands of disabled children, we don't actually know how many, who've been excluded from school by the school itself or themselves don't feel their needs are being met, and parents are being forced into home education as a result."
Katie added that it's having an impact on the parents too:
"Across our services, we are always hearing from parents of disabled children who've either been forced to give up work completely to care for their disabled child because they're not getting the support they need in the community, or they've had to reduce their hours or make really tough decisions... and they love their children and they want to be looking after their children but they want to be working as well, and they're being forced to make very tough choices."
The charity KIDS are on a mission to create a world where all kinds of kids have all kinds of opportunities. They provides a wide range of services in over 60 Local Authority areas, for young disabled people and their families. From nursery care, home-learning, and adventure playgrounds, to SEND mediation, information & advice services, and crisis intervention. To find out more, check out the KIDS website.
The research comes from a survey, of 1,001 parents and guardians of disabled children under the age of 18 in the UK, and found that nearly two in five parents have been forced to educate their disabled child at home because of a lack of suitable provision or funding.
A third (33%) of parents of disabled children have had to go to tribunal to have their local authority agree to fund their child's education, according to the poll for disability charity Sense.
Even some parents said they've had to spend their children's savings to fight for support, with 46% struggling to get an education, health and care (EHC) plan in place for their child, and a similar proportion (45%) said they had faced difficulties in getting the plan delivered.
The charity has estimated that around 200,000 disabled children in England are having problems getting the right support through an EHC plan.
An EHC plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support.
These plans identify educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.
The poll, which was carried out by Censuswide in September, found that 39% of parents said they have had to educate their disabled child at home as there is not the funding or the right education provision available to them.
The charity, alogside KIDS, is calling on the Government to set out an improvement plan for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) in its upcoming Children's Wellbeing Bill.
Richard Kramer, the Chief Executive of Sense, said the survey findings highlight the "shocking realities" of the special educational needs system right now.
He said: "Every child has the right to access education to get the best start in life, and it is unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of disabled children are being denied this basic right.
"This lack of support also puts a huge toll on parents, impacting the whole family. Getting an EHC plan is often a complex and lengthy process involving multiple assessments and draft plans. Having to fight for the right support is emotionally and, frequently, financially taxing.
"We've had parents tell us that they are spending savings put aside for their children's future before they even start school, just to fight for the right support. Other parents have had to give up their careers because their children's needs aren't being met."
Arooj Shah, chair of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, said: "Councils want to ensure that every child gets the support they need and the best start in life.
"However, these findings are symptomatic of a Send system in crisis with rising transport costs and growth in need.
"We want to work with the Government on long-term Send reform that improves children's lives and is financially sustainable for councils, and call on the Government to take action in the autumn Budget to stabilise services under pressure."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "For too long, children and young people with Send have been let down by a system that is not working, with parents too often battling to get their child the support they need and, more importantly, deserve.
"We are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise within mainstream schools, as well as making sure special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.
"There is no 'magic wand' to fix these deep-rooted issues immediately, but we have already started and will act as quickly as possible to ensure that every child gets the best start in life."