The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign (EDCM) has today
(Thursday 12th July) published the results of a survey
on the Government's proposals to reform the special educational
needs (SEN) and disability system. 85% of respondents to this
survey were parents of carers of disabled children.
40% of respondents thought reforms will 'make things worse' and
10% thought the reforms would 'not change anything', whereas only
13% thought that the measures would 'make things better'.
Respondents demonstrated a good understanding of the key
concepts of current reforms - for example, replacing statements of
special educational need, introducing a single assessment process
and plan, introducing a right to a personal budget. They agreed
with the Government that the system needs to be improved, but
warned that current proposals risk making it more difficult to gain
support: 'The message is positive but the reality is that those
families that have a child or children without a Statement of
Special Educational Need will not be supported by them.'
When asked what the Government should be doing, the highest
number of recommendations related to social care and family support
outside of school - including social work support, short breaks,
child care, sibling support, peer support and key working.
View EDCM's report here.