Waterlooville special educational needs campaigner says parents are fearful over support
New research is finding nearly one in two parents are worried their SEND child could see support reduced
A Waterlooville campaigner for special educational needs children is telling us parents are fearful over possible support reductions.
It comes as new research finds nearly one in two parents are worried their SEND child could see support reduced as they await details on the government's reforms.
Aimee Bradley's a mother to three SEND children and campaigner with The SEND Sanctuary.
She said: "What parents want isn't conflict.
"They want a system that works early, locally and fairly so families don't have to appeal at all.
"Nobody sees tribunal as a win, it's a last resort when everything else has broken down.
"What I'm hearing now is a huge amount of fear and uncertainty.
"Not because people want to fight the system, but because for many families, the system already doesn't work.
"Tribunal isn't something parents rush to, it's what happens after years of delays, refusals and informal routes failing them.
"So when parents hear reports of appeals being restricted, it feels like the last safety net is being pulled away."
It comes ahead of the government publishing plans to reform the SEND system, which are expected to come early this year as part of the Schools' White Paper.
Much of the speculation has been around education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which are legal documents setting out the support a young person with Send is entitled to.
The growth in EHCPs has meant spiralling spending for councils, and some have recommended legislative change to focus EHCPs on the highest need alone - which many Send parents have raised concerns about.
Education minister Georgia Gould has previously said there "will always be a legal right to additional support" for young people with SEND.
Sense chief executive James Watson-O'Neill said: "A shocking number of children are being failed by a baffling and underfunded Send system.
"Too many are falling through the cracks - at the cost of their happiness, wellbeing and future life chances.
"So it's little surprise that parents feel deep anxiety and distrust about the upcoming education reforms.
"If their children's legal rights are weakened any further or there's an attempt to cut spending, the consequences could be devastating."
More than one in three (35%) of 1,000 SEND parents surveyed by disability charity, Sense, said they had left their job because of a lack of appropriate support for their child.
40% of SEND parents said they had had to cut their working hours.