Demonstration in Truro for 'suitable education' for SEND children
Parents and pupils have gathered outside New County Hall with concerns around lack of support for children with special educational needs
Last updated 21st Jan 2025
Families have gathered in Truro with concerns around lack of support for children with special educational needs.
Parents who feel the needs of their neurodiverse children aren’t being listened to by Cornwall Council organised the rally outside New County Hall today (Tuesday 21 January) calling for a 'suitable education'.
The experience of one mum in particular has led to the protest by around 50 parents of SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) children.
Jenna Tyack, of Shortlanesend, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she has been left at the end of her tether after her daughter was enrolled in a new specialist school, Cardrew Court School in Redruth, which didn’t suit her complex needs. Daisy, 12, was then given notice to leave after her parents raised concerns, before the local authority and the school made a U-turn last week ensuring she now attends again.
The same thing has happened to two other pupils, whose families also attended the protest.
Hayley Welsh, parent from Truro, told us:
"I've got one daughter who's in mainstream education and knowing when there's going to be a supply teacher or knowing if the seating plan has changed. That can dysregulate children for the whole day.
"Having those adjustments put in place, the amount of saved hours those children can get is monumental".
Jenna, Sarah Robertson and Hayley Welsh say that Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) packages their autistic daughters had previously received were much more successful – and much cheaper for the council to provide. The council says that placements are based on suitability under its statutory duty and not on costs.
Sarah Roberton, parent from Porthtowan, told us:
"I have a 12 year old who has been out of education from October 2022. She was offered a specialist placement at Cardew Court School and due to her anxiety and trauma from her primary years she's been unable to attend that.
"We've got four hours a week education for our daughter at the moment in the form of home tutoring which isn't suitable full time education and it's not fit for purpose and doesn't meet her need."
Emma, parent from St Austell, added:
"I'm a parent of two children with additional needs. We've gone through the battle of getting my son into appropriate school. It's been a hard battle and journey for us all to get it out there what support needs to happen and highlight the lack of support that's currently out there for families."
A spokesperson from Cornwall Council said: "Cornwall Council has worked with partners to introduce a range of interventions to support children and young people with autism.
"This includes a new school which opened last year specifically aimed at supporting neurodivergent children who are anxious, particularly in relation to participation at school. Oftsed inspectors have commended its curriculum.
"Under the Children and Families Act 2014, Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) packages are only offered once all other options have been explored. Decisions to offer them are made by local authorities and are not based on requests or preferences from parents and carers.
"When a new provision becomes available that we identify as suitable (or is named by a tribunal), we have a statutory duty to place that young person in the setting. These decisions are not based on cost.
"We recognise that any transition from an EOTAS provision to a school setting can be difficult and we always work closely with the children, families and school to overcome any challenges. We also continue to review the suitability of placements as they progress.
"We continue to work hard on improving SEND provision in Cornwall and a second new independent specialist school will be opening in 2025 in Gunnislake."
We have contacted both Cardrew Court School and the Special Partnership Trust, which runs it, for a response to the parents’ comments.