Peterborough charity hopes reforms make sure SEND children aren't 'left behind'
The city council wants to make sure support is available earlier
The founder of a Peterborough charity says children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the city are being "left behind" because of current support.
Peterborough City Council (PCC) is planning a multi-million pound overhaul of current SEND support as part of a three-year programme.
"Children are being left behind," Michelle King, founder of Little Miracles, said.
"If they're not getting the right support and not in education, not getting qualifications or experience, it means it's going to be harder to get jobs, maintain jobs, and increasing the welfare bill further down the line."
In a report discussed by city councillors last night (Monday), PCC said its overhaul aims to "create a more inclusive, preventative and sustainable SEND system" through getting children and young people the help they need as early as possible.
The council warned that if no action to improve SEND support was taken, Peterborough could see a shortfall of around 475 specialist places by 2030.
Need for 'high level support'
Michelle's 19-year-old son has SEND and was never offered a school place because of his complex care needs.
"If they can receive support earlier, especially with things like speech and language, managing behaviours linked to sensory needs, it means the families are less likely to struggle and the problems don't get as large," Michelle said.
"Some families are always going to need specialist and high level support and interventions.
"We're failing on the early interventions which pushes the problem further down the line; it costs us so much more because families need more support."
PCC said it's received £2.17m in Government funding to carry out its SEND reform plans for this year, with an extra £3.8m for 2027-28 and £4.3m for 2028-29 also outlined.
The PCC report said children who go out of Peterborough for their SEND placement face lengthy travel times, as well as less chance to develop friendships within their local communities.
Support closer to home
PCC wants its latest plan to allow more children and young people to get "high quality specialist support closer to home, remain connected to their local communities and maintain stronger relationships with local services".
Part of that plan is to bring in educational psychologists which PCC believe will support schools and families to respond to SEND needs earlier while being "visible members of local communities".
While there would also be money spent on speech and language therapy for those in need.
Latest Government figures show 7,659 children and young people in Peterborough receive SEND support, compared to 18,617 across Cambridgeshire.
Michelle has questioned where psychologists and therapists would come from to make the plans work, but says any support has to be more often than not.
"If families aren't able to get the support in school, in the education, health and care plan and they're (children) masking (their SEND), come home and explode, things are a lot trickier for the family," she added.
"That's going to result in more referrals to social services in order to get respite.
"Getting the support can only be good, but that support has to be consistent."