Government publishes more details of SEN proposals

The Government has today published more details of their plans for SEN.  Their long-awaited "Next Steps" paper confirms the Government’s plans to progress the proposals made in last year’s Green Paper.  It updates on progress over the last year, summarises responses to their proposals, and sets out their plans for taking the reforms forward.  

You can read the report here:

http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/a0075339/sengreenpaper

Commenting on the Government’s response to last year’s Green Paper consultation on special educational needs (SEN), Mark Lever, Chief Executive, NAS, said:

　

“The proposed changes to the statementing process look promising.

“The concern is exactly how support will be improved for children with SEN who don’t have a statement but still have significant needs. A recent NAS survey indicated that only 65% of children with autism do have a statement – and although 18% without currently get some support through School Action Plus, 44% of parents told us they are dissatisfied with it.    

“There has been much media hype over identification of SEN, but for children with autism this is not a picture we recognise. Many parents we speak to have faced a huge battle to get their child the educational help and support they need.

“With the Government pledging to change how it identifies SEN, there is a danger that more children with autism will fall through the gaps in the education system and miss out on an effective preparation for adult life and employment.”

Main points of the report include:

• replacing SEN statements and separate Learning Difficulty Assessments (for older children) with a single, simpler birth to 25 assessment process and Education, Health and Care Plan from 2014. Parents with the plans would have the right to a personal budget for their support.
• providing statutory protections comparable to those currently associated with a statement of SEN to up to 25 in further education – instead of there being a 'cliff edge' when it is cut off at 16, to help young people into employment and independent living.
• local authorities and health services will be required to link up services for disabled children and young people – so they are jointly planned and commissioned.
• requiring local authorities to publish a local offer showing the support available to disabled children and young people and those with SEN, and their families.
• introducing mediation for disputes and trialling giving children the right to appeal if they are unhappy with their support.
• children would have a new legal right to seek a place at state academies and Free Schools – currently it is limited to maintained mainstream and special schools. Local authorities would have to name the parent’s preferred school so long it was suitable for the child.
• a new single category of SEN for children whose needs exceed what is normally available in schools to replace School Action and School Action Plus

Government announces plans to change SEN law

In yesterday's Queen's speech the Government announced it will introduce new legislation to reform the Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disability system.  This is a significant step forward from the proposals first announced in last summer's Green Paper, Support and Aspiration.   It marks what will be the biggest legal changes to the SEN system in 30 years.

Our Great Expectations campaign, supported by thousands of campaigners has called on the Government to create a system which prepares children for life and works with, not against, their parents.  We welcome the Government's aim to support families with children with disabilities such as autism.  However, we will continue to ensure changes to the SEN and disability system benefit all children and young people who need specialist support, not just those with statements.

The main changes that will be put forward in the Bill are:

·        From 2014 replace the system of statements of SEN and Learning Difficulty Assessments with a “single, simpler assessment process and Education, Health and Care Plan"

·        Extend the statutory protections associated with a statement of SEN to young people up to the age of 25 in further education, instead of the statement ceasing when the young person leaves school

·        Requiring local authorities to publish a local offer showing the support available to children and young people with SEN and disabilities and their families

                                                                                            

·        Give parents or young people who have an Education, Health and Care Plan the right to a personal budget for their support

·        Introduce mediation for disputes and trial giving children the right to appeal if they are unhappy with their support

Thank you to all those campaigners who have got involved with our Great Expectations campaign.  We will keep you updated as the plans progress and let you know about further things you can get involved in.

For more information on getting involved with our education campaign go to www.autism.org.uk/greatexpectations

Launch of the A* for Autism campaign on SEN

The National Autistic Society Northern Ireland (NAS NI) is calling on all Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to consider the needs of children with autism as they debate the reforms to the Special Educational Needs (SEN) system.

We have launched the A* for Autism campaign on SEN, which points to current failings in the education of children with autism in Northern Ireland.

Research carried out by the NAS NI found that over half of children with autism wait over a year for appropriate educational support and that almost one in three parents feel that the education their child receives is not adequate to their needs. 

Over 80% of parents who took part in our research say that a lack of support has harmed their children’s social and communication skills, and a further 65% said that a lack of support had affected their child’s mental health.

Shirelle Stewart , Co-Director of the  National Autistic Society Northern Ireland said:

“We hope that this campaign will enable children with autism to access an A* education that sets them up for life. Every area of Northern Ireland needs to have education provision that understands autism.

“It is completely unacceptable that so many parents have to battle to secure their child’s fundamental right to an education. The proposed reforms to the Special Educational Needs system will shape the future of a generation of children with SEN so the Northern Ireland Assembly must listen to parents when they say that the system must do better to meet their needs.”

Please ask your MLA to support A* for Autism

Click here to download a copy of the A* for Autism campaign report.  

Fixing SEN?

Fixing SEN?

Last week a group of campaigners got together to discuss the Government’s proposals for reforming the special educational needs system. The focus group, held at the NAS’ Manchester office, brought together the expertise of people on the spectrum, parents and professional knowledge, and focused on what needs to happen to make the system.  Key issues that came up included:

• the importance of schools talking to parents and listening to what they have to say
• teachers having appropriate training in autism and relevant skills to work with children on the spectrum. Often these skills can look like good practice in working with other children but are particularly important for young people on the spectrum
• the importance of autism and equality awareness among other pupils as well as staff

We are still waiting for the Government to publish its “next steps” report, but we will use the issues raised in the focus group to help shape the focus of our work and our recommendations as the Government makes further changes to the system.

Young Campaigners meet Education Minister, Sarah Teather

On 27 March the National Autistic Society’s Young Campaigners group met Sarah Teather, Minister for Children and Families.  They discussed how schools can be improved for young people with autism, as part of our Great Expectations campaign.

The meeting gave our Young Campaigners the opportunity to share their own experiences of school life and to campaign for changes in the provision of Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Following the Government’s proposal for reforming the SEN system, the group has been devising a campaign to ensure that children and young people with autism have more support and choice in school. The groups’ campaign has three simple aims:

• For children and young people with autism to be involved in decisions affecting them.
• For teachers to better understand pupils with autism and how to support them.
• To ensure that all students have the same opportunities, whoever they are and wherever they live.

The Young Campaigners each put a question to the Minister about these aims and have asked the Government to:

·        Ensure that all students with autism have a personalised plan to monitor progress.

·       Ensure the Local Offer, proposed in the SEN and Disability Green Paper, includes meaningful information which enables young people with autism and their families to access support which meets their needs.

·        Publicise the best practice guide for School Council’s, which the group has created.

One campaigner, Tiernan, 13, explained: “I wanted to do this because I want to raise awareness of autism and related conditions so that I can improve the lives of people with autism and other Special Educational Needs. Sarah Teather seemed to listen and care about our experiences.  For people with autism, like myself, school can be a living nightmare.”

Take Action:

To pledge your support the campaign, please sign their e-petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31657

Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather MP gives evidence to APPGA

On the 6^th and 13^th of March, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA) held oral evidence sessions as part of its Commission into Special Educational Needs reform.

The panel, chaired by Robert Buckland MP, heard evidence from the Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather MP, the Shadow Children’s Minister Sharon Hodgson MP, as well as young people with autism (including one of our young campaigners), parents (including one of our ambassadors), teachers, academics and other professionals.

Sarah Teather MP told the cross-party panel of MPs and Peers that the Government would publish a Next Steps document ‘imminently’, in response to the Green Paper consultation last year. She also said the relationship between parents and local authorities was “not working” at present, promising that her planned reforms would ensure greater transparency and closer joint-working between education, health and social care services. 

The sessions were extremely well attended by MPs, Peers and the public, and provided an excellent opportunity for discussion on a range of issues including autism awareness training for teachers in mainstream schools, transition arrangements, and the need to ensure that children with autism access further education, training and employment after finishing at school. 

The APPGA will use the evidence gathered in these oral evidence sessions to inform a forthcoming report on SEN Reform, which will be published and presented directly to the Government later this year.  Its recommendations will also include findings from a public survey of around 1000 people with autism, parents and teachers. 

Last chance to have your say in Counting the Costs 2012 research

Contact a Family is calling on parents and other family members caring for a disabled child to take part in important research about the financial situation for families with disabled children in 2012. The deadline is 11^th March, so it’s vital to make your views heard by the end of this week.

Counting the Costs 2012 is a repeat of a survey and report Contact a Family carried out in 2008 and 2010. Your collective responses will give a snapshot of families’ current financial situation and whether it has improved or worsened over the last four years.

Please help to build that picture by completing the survey which should not take more than 15 minutes. Thank you.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CountingtheCosts2012

If you would like a hard copy of the survey or need help to complete the survey please ring Contact a Family on 020 7608 8700.