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Minister seeks more parental choice on special needs | Minister seeks more parental choice on special needs |
(3 days later) | |
By Heather Sharp Education reporter, BBC News | By Heather Sharp Education reporter, BBC News |
The children's minister says parents should have more choice over special educational needs provision in England, as she seeks input for a Green Paper. | The children's minister says parents should have more choice over special educational needs provision in England, as she seeks input for a Green Paper. |
Sarah Teather said the current system for determining the help children get was too "adversarial". | Sarah Teather said the current system for determining the help children get was too "adversarial". |
A fifth of school age children have some form of SEN, ranging from physical disabilities to emotional problems. | A fifth of school age children have some form of SEN, ranging from physical disabilities to emotional problems. |
Parents complain of a battle for help, while it is claimed schools inflate figures to boost league table scores. | Parents complain of a battle for help, while it is claimed schools inflate figures to boost league table scores. |
About 3% of children have severe special needs and are assessed by their local authorities and then given "statements" of their needs. | About 3% of children have severe special needs and are assessed by their local authorities and then given "statements" of their needs. |
The authority must then provide for the child's education, which is sometimes done through provision from the school, and sometimes from additional local authority resources. | |
Disability and special needs charities have long said some parents face long and difficult battles to have their children's needs documented and provided for adequately. | Disability and special needs charities have long said some parents face long and difficult battles to have their children's needs documented and provided for adequately. |
Ms Teather said parents should be more involved in deciding which schools their children go to - "rather than just being told their child is going here and it's tough luck if they don't like it". | Ms Teather said parents should be more involved in deciding which schools their children go to - "rather than just being told their child is going here and it's tough luck if they don't like it". |
"Children with special educational needs and disabilities should have the same opportunities as other children. But the current system is so adversarial that too often this doesn't happen," she said. | "Children with special educational needs and disabilities should have the same opportunities as other children. But the current system is so adversarial that too often this doesn't happen," she said. |
However, the majority of children with SEN have less severe problems and are diagnosed by their schools. | |
In some cases the schools can then apply for extra resources to support the children, though in others the school must supply help from its own funds. | |
Ms Teather said she has heard from parents who suggested their children may have been given statements so that the schools could get additional funding, and others who thought it was a way of dealing with poor behaviour. | Ms Teather said she has heard from parents who suggested their children may have been given statements so that the schools could get additional funding, and others who thought it was a way of dealing with poor behaviour. |
Also, one of the statistical measures used in school league tables, "contextual value added", takes account of the proportion of pupils with SEN. | Also, one of the statistical measures used in school league tables, "contextual value added", takes account of the proportion of pupils with SEN. |
An expert and senior government adviser, Philippa Stobbs, has said this encourages schools to over-diagnose. | An expert and senior government adviser, Philippa Stobbs, has said this encourages schools to over-diagnose. |
But others argue that rising numbers of children with SEN are simply a sign that schools are becoming better at identifying problems. | But others argue that rising numbers of children with SEN are simply a sign that schools are becoming better at identifying problems. |
Ms Teather said she wanted to "completely overhaul and streamline assessments". | Ms Teather said she wanted to "completely overhaul and streamline assessments". |
A government-commissioned inquiry said last December that parents of children with special needs should be given more support. | A government-commissioned inquiry said last December that parents of children with special needs should be given more support. |
The Labour government tried, under a policy of "inclusion", to place pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools wherever possible. | The Labour government tried, under a policy of "inclusion", to place pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools wherever possible. |
Under its rule, the number of state and private special schools in England fell by 7% from 1997 to 2005. | Under its rule, the number of state and private special schools in England fell by 7% from 1997 to 2005. |
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat government says, in its coalition agreement, that it will "prevent the unnecessary closure of special schools, and remove the bias towards inclusion". | The Conservative-Liberal Democrat government says, in its coalition agreement, that it will "prevent the unnecessary closure of special schools, and remove the bias towards inclusion". |
Submissions for the Green Paper will be accepted from Friday until 15 October. | Submissions for the Green Paper will be accepted from Friday until 15 October. |
Ministers are examining a range of options including how to: | Ministers are examining a range of options including how to: |
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Does your child have special needs? Have you been able to get the provision you need? Do you think schools handle the issue well? Tell us about your experience | Does your child have special needs? Have you been able to get the provision you need? Do you think schools handle the issue well? Tell us about your experience |
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