Calls grow for improved support in Peterborough SEND services
Local charity and families highlight ongoing challenges for children with special educational needs
A Peterborough charity has said it wants to strengthen Special Educational Needs (SEN) services as families gather to raise awareness and push for change.
Pairs of shoes were placed outside the city's Town Hall earlier this month, representing the many young people who are missing out on the help they need.
SEN support comes 'when things hit crisis point'
Figures from the Department for Education shows that 17.1% of pupils attending state schools in Peterborough have a statutory plan of SEN or are receiving SEN support.
Despite this, many children are sharing their struggles with accessing timely and effective help.
“We are seeing the local system is buckling under the strain of an increase in demand and less resourcing available to help the families," Louise Ravenscroft, from charity Family Voice Peterborough, said.
"Families are coming to us with concerns around education, health, and care plans around concerns relating to centre support.
"They're struggling with waiting lists for diagnostic assessments."
Louise said families are also struggling with accessing therapies, as well as meeting care and family household demands.
"I think what we're seeing is support being offered later on down the line when things hit crisis point rather than actually helping much earlier in the child's journey, and that then has a knock on effect on their long-term outcomes,” she added.
They're struggling with waiting lists for diagnostic assessments
The challenges highlighted by Family Voice are reflected in local statistics.
Peterborough’s weekly expenditure per child with a statement or education, health and care plan (EHC) is £100, close to the average for similar areas.
Among looked-after children, 34.1% have a statement of SEN or EHC plan, and 25.8% of children in need receive formal SEN support.
Family Voice Peterborough say they "don't want to see another generation failed by broken special educational needs services".
Peterborough City Council says its working hard to meet the needs of young people and their families.
A Department for Education spokesperson said the SEN system was "on its knees, with thousands of families struggling to secure the right support.
"We’re determined to put that right and deliver a better system that supports children and families at every stage."
The Government said it has carried out more than 100 listening sessions with families, and plans are in place to speak with more parents through the Schools White Paper as part of its 'Plan for Change'.
“Through that engagement we have already made progress on our plans to build a truly inclusive system," the spokesperson added.
"(This includes) through improved training for teachers, £740 million to create more specialist places, earlier intervention for speech and language needs and embedding SEND leads in our Best Start Family Hubs in every local area."