Last week, we asked our member forums two key questions about the attendance of children and young people with SEND. We were able to use the results to share your views at the Department for Education’s Vulnerable Children’s Covid 19 Board and to the Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi who attended the first 20 minutes of the session.
NNPCF co-chairs Mrunal Sisodia and Tina Emery attend the DfE Vulnerable Children’s Covid 19 Board. The meeting considers the impact of Covid on vulnerable children and young people and how the government can support recovery. The board looks at different aspects of the impact of covid including attendance, educational attainment, mental health and safeguarding. Children and young people with SEND are regularly considered by the board and SEND remains high on the agenda.
At the board meeting last week, there was a particular focus on attendance. To prepare for this meeting, Mrunal and Tina asked forums two key questions about the attendance of children and young people with SEND through a flash survey of parent carer forums.
The results re-iterated the key messages that we have been hearing from member forums about the experiences of CYP with SEND this term. They describe families living with anxiety and mental health issues and often poor and inadequate support from services meaning that the needs of many children are not being met in settings.
The survey also gave some pointers about what needs to be done differently to change this. These included:
- More reasonable adjustments
- A more holistic focus on pupil well being
- Better support for anxiety and
- Improved coproduction with CYP and families
You see some of the representations we have made at this and other Covid 19 board on our website. Covid isn’t over for SEND families – the NNPCF’s continuing work on the pandemic – National Network of Parent Carer Forums C.I.C
One reply on “School attendance for children and young people with SEND”
I have 2 children 1 of which had trouble in reception and got a diagnosis of ADHD and ASD by yr 1 and had to attend a alternative provision for 9mths for a couple of hours a day and the 6 months with me at home until a place in an SEN school became available of which was yr 3 until he could start, Now In yr 6 and has done amazing but the closest appropriate secondary is 24 miles away of which I will need to transport him myself as he will not go in a taxi. Then I have my eldest who became very anti school but had been struggling for a couple of years he was eventually put on a part time table but the school was struggling to understand his needs as his anxiety grew to the point that going to bed with the feeling of being so distraught at the fact he had school in the morning. It became clear he was unable to cope with large groups and started to resist going into the playground or going to anything new he struggled with that he needed a EHCP to begin for secondary but this was delayed and therefore started secondary without this in place and was quickly put onto a part time table. He wouldn’t participate in any subjects but English and math. He now after 2 yrs had a ASD diagnosis but know there many other complex needs he struggles with such Social Anxiety, OCD, Sensory processing disorders, but with such long waits for anyone to actually confirm these he will never get the understanding of his needs. Now yr 9 and barely in school due to the environment and the clear inability to manage his needs it’s seemingly impossible for him to get a proper education of what I can only dream for. I have been going through all the schools but non of which would be suitable bar 1 of which I have been trying to get him there for the last 3mths but because of the constant upheaval and inadequate support from the SEN team it’s a constant daily battle as it’s one thing after another with firstly consultating with a school but with the wrong info 3 times and it’s still a NO so then onto the next and low and behold the consultation sits on a desk for 2weeks as it was forgotten about but by this time it’s half term so extra time needed only then I get a maybe as long as he is referred to Cahms of which he was but I needed a letter from the doctor to confirm this. We then have to wait another 2 weeks as we’d missed the placement panel as they had to now go through all other consultations they had received. This has made me ill because of all the stress of trying to get him into school every day but I understand why he doesn’t want to be there as he’s not getting the right kind of support as if he refuses to go to class he’s left to work on his own! I am so worried about what this school bill as obviously I cannot work so we rely on my husband wage which has been crippling over the last 2 yrs due to Covid. I run a support group and talk to many other parents with major concerns over this and as many of us already struggling to get an education for our children because of lack of specialist schools and knowledge and understanding within mainstream