Mum's Petition Demands Better SEND Support

A West Berkshire mum has launched a petition calling for greater accountability when mainstream schools say they cannot meet childrens SEND needs. More than a hundred people have signed it.

Emma Alway says her four-year-old son Leighton was named in his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and Yattendon C of E Primary initially accepted his place, but later told the family it could not meet his needs.

"Every child has the right to an education," says Emma Alway.

She says the school cited safety concerns, including fencing, as a reason for withdrawing the placement. Leighton remains out of school.

"A child should not lose a school placement simply because they have additional needs, are non-verbal, are not yet toilet trained, or require additional supervision and reasonable adjustments," she said.

The school governors wrote to her saying her criticisms had upset other parents. "While we understand you are upset, persistently criticising a member of staff is not something we can accept. This behaviour is unsettling, and places pressure on the staff and governors and undermines the school ethos," says the letter from the co-chair of governors Matthew Starmer, who said the decision to place her son at Yattendon was made by the council's SEN team.

The council said pupil safety and wellbeing are paramount, sites are assessed, and individual reviews consider whether a school can safely meet a childs needs. If circumstances change after a place is allocated, the annual review process (or an emergency annual review) will decide ongoing suitability.

"If a child requires additional supervision, specialist support, assistance with toileting, a safe environment or other reasonable adjustments, the response should be to consider how those needs can be accommodated," added Ms Alway. "The answer should not simply be to remove the child from mainstream education without properly considering what reasonable adjustments and support could be put in place."

"We are asking the Government, local authorities, school governing bodies and education authorities to strengthen accountability and ensure that mainstream schools are genuinely capable of supporting children with SEND safely and inclusively."

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/784143

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter