New service launching to help North Somerset residents access support
News for Weston-super-Mare Central Ward from local councillors Mike Bell and Robert Payne : serving you on North Somerset Council and Weston-super-Mare Town Council Learn more
by mikebell on 4 December, 2018
Thousands of children are missing out on key support for diagnosed special educational needs in England and it is a “national scandal”, according to the chief inspector of England’s schools
Her annual report reveals 2,060 children in 2018 with official education, health and care plans (EHCs) setting out their needs still received no support at all. Far too often, children who have been assessed still do not receive the services they need.
Councillor Mike Bell commented: “Parents rightly expect and aspire to see that their child has the best possible education and receives the best possible support. Council funding for special educational needs has been squeezed, whilst schools are being pushed to the brink by the underfunding of SEND, at a time when there is already severe pressure on general schools funding.
“It has got to change. I have been campaigning hard to get North Somerset Council to take its responsibilities to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities seriously and there is now an Ofsted action plan in place to improve things. However, without the right resources, local services will always struggle.”
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