Special educational needs and disabilities (Send) have been neglected according to a scathing report by a cross-party committee of MPs highlighting the shortcomings of the government.
The committee has also called for radical changes to be made in the whole system to ensure that the students are taken care of.
In 2014, the government outlined an ambitious plan to help Send students, in what was hailed then as a progressive move to address one of the most persistent issues in the education system. However, 5 years later and little has changed according to the report. The plans that were highlighted have ended up being pipe dreams unlike what had been promised by the government.
The plan, if it had been implemented properly, would have seen improvement of Send pupils and their families. However, this was not to be the case as the report noted.
Special education neglect
The report also noted that the government not only neglected the students’ educational needs, it also neglected their mental well being. This has had an adverse effect on these students with parents reporting that kids as young as 9 years of age have attempted suicides. This has been directly been linked to a lack of support in these institutions.
An inquiry that was commissioned by these MPs and that lasted for 18 months called upon over 70 witnesses and had some other 700 written submissions highlighting the plight of these students. The report also noted an increased rate of a student wanting to do self-harm, depression, and anxiety among the Send pupils.
The report also noted the significant decrease in funding of the Send programs and institutions. The government, however, has highlighted that there will be an increase of funding to a tune of £780m. It has also come out clearly indicating that it is aware of what is happening and it is working hard to ensure that the problems are addressed.
Labour’s shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, indicated that they were aware of the report and said,
It is the latest evidence that the most vulnerable children are paying the highest price for this government’s cuts.
The Local Government Association, which represents councils stated that it was in full support of the 2014 plan. It also noted that its implementation has been poor and a lot needs to be done to ensure that students’ needs are properly addressed.
Join the conversation on special education and don’t just take what your government dish out. It’s your taxpayers’ money after all.
The term special needs is a catch-all phrase that can refer to a vast array of diagnoses and/or disabilities. Children with special needs may have been born with a syndrome, terminal illness, profound cognitive impairment, or serious psychiatric problems. Other children may have special needs that involve struggling with learning disabilities, food allergies, developmental delays, or panic attacks.
The designation “children with special needs” is for children who may have challenges that are more severe than the typical child, and could possibly last a lifetime. These children will need extra support, and additional services. They will have distinct goals and will need added guidance and help meeting academic, social, emotional, and sometimes medical milestones.
