Reform councils to cut SEN spending

Your tone was dismissive earlier admittedly it is now more polite. I do not engage in aggressive exchanges and it is disappointing that you choose to do so.

Not dismissive of views differing to mine just views like yours for the reasons I have explained.

I think there’s some research on over identification of SEN, particularly in summer born dc who catch up. Plus some areas are “soft touches” and attract parents of sen dc. Also the diagnosis isn’t consistent. There is no national formula. The centre for educational neuroscience looked at this.

Also traveller Roma dc have highest incidence of Sen. So heritage is another factor. Even the Guardian said there was a middle class push for diagnosis which meant the wrong dc getting support at the expense of less pushy and informed others. It’s long been the case in many mc areas. So Farage isn’t wholly out of line with research.

What they can do to funding will be interesting. There are strict guidelines on how schools receive Sen funding and it’s not up to Farage councillors to change that. Lots of people who vote Reform won’t understand any of this but will think lack of funding is down to immigrants grabbing the money.

The Warnock report 40 years ago altered the premise of SEN in that it could be temporary and dc could be educated in mainstream schools. Many LAs closed special schools as a result. This has had far reaching repercussions as well as increases in what is considered to be Sen. The Guardian looks at diagnosis to get more time in exams. It’s definitely something we need to be aware of as it’s now affecting 1.3 million dc.

We all have different views, listening to others is important and being dismissive of others isn’t a response that is helpful

Most Reform councillors will just take their allowances and turn up for as few meetings as possible. I cant see many sitting down with their residents and actually helping them. A little like Farage and the residents of Clacton

Sorry we can all say that and your posts indicate quite the opposite. I’d be deeply concerned with anybody working in SEN with views like yours.

The children with SEN being supported properly benefits every child in the class. Unsupported needs have a knock on around the room (and to a degree the whole school) that’s why we need to ensure needs are identified and when schools and parents are shouting for help provide it!

I am not detailing my experience as it will no doubt be outing, it is varied and as I said at a high level. Everyone of us is shaped by our experiences so it is likely we have different views and opinions.

High level- such as ?

My experience is similar in that I have one child with Sen and one without and work in education in varied roles at a high level

No not really I have children with SEN and and EHCP and have worked in education with children who have SENs in a variety of settings and in a variety of roles. You sound very ignorant re what you think the remit of an education system actually is.

My hope is that good county councillors are renowned for hard work in their local community. When they don't they are soon slagged off and rendered useless as people generally know them.

Not sure Reform are known for hard work in their local communuties and I suspect they will all be a bit fed up when they find they are being held to account in their towns (and probably don't have huge power).

For every complex problem there is a simple, and wrong, solution. Congratulations.

"Unpopular opinion but children who are probably never going to be independent/have a job don’t need a formal education. "

My son doesn't have a formal education but does still need to learn how to communicate the best he can etc. This requires a lot of specialist teaching and if you think a non formal education is cheaper, you are wrong.

I would imagine my evidence is much the same as yours, as I said we all have different experiences

But even that requires support. A child might have an IQ of 140 but poor auditory processing and an inability to think or stay calm in a busy classroom or their technical language might be excellent but they have significant language processing impairments that make difficult for them to parse even simple instructions or formulate a response so they will still need lots of support and small class sizes whether they're going to sit GCSE or be assessed for basic entry level accreditation.

And your evidence for this ridiculous accusation?

@R0ckl0bsterpeople have different experiences and it will vary across the country. My views are that the focus upon Sen has seen the focus move away from the majority. The creasing diagnoses level are not credible , furled by parents and schools levels to increase support etc etc the list goes on . That may not be true in some areas/schools but it is sadly the case in others.

With respect, as I said further up, it’s pretty obvious to a lot of people that this will be true. They have already shown contempt for minorities by saying in their ‘’contract’’ they want to scrap the Equality Act 2010, and by Farage saying himself after the election results the other day that he wants to get rid of DEI and WFH which will obviously effect the disabled and other minorities because that’s far too woke isn’t it?

Add Richard Tice saying on morning tv that councils spend too much on ergonomic chairs. Ergonomic chairs are there for the comfort of disabled workers. He reckons they don’t need them. If you can’t see what’s happening here, I just don’t know what to say to you. They’re telling you exactly who they are. If they can reduce SEN funding, trust me, they will.

I didn't vote Reform but they haven't actually done anything yet. That's just tactics from the Lib Dems not wanting people to vote for Reform.

So nothing to do with the diagnose process then.

But the SEN children who absolutely should be in mainstream and are not getting the provision they need and are entitled to don’t matter. 🤔

Provision is pitched at the majority not those with SEN so I think you’ll find those with SEN suffer more a whole lot more.

“Many pupils with SEND fall outside of the special school system, often on the basis of cognitive ability even if their other needs are severe. How many of these children should be deprived of the chance of some formal qualifications on the basis that they would be no good to an employer, anyhow? There are so many older adults who are functionally illiterate because no one thought they were worth educating. Is that something we should return to?”

surely removing very formal education (ie passing exams) and concentrating on basic numeracy and literacy for some sen pupils means they are less likely to leave school ‘functionally illiterate?

This is according to the Lib Dems, not sure how much they know about Reform's SEN policies. Not much I would imagine.

@R0ckl0bster you don’t need a diagnose for all access arrangements but you do need documentation. There is a tendency for parents and schools to seek preferential treatment and that is fact I am afraid. The system is being used by many. There are however Sen children who need support and that too needs to be rethought , we have situations in schools n the uk where non Sen children’s education is suffering on a daily basis due to the inclusion policy , I don’t believe that is right.

What do you think special schools are doing already? They have to deliver the national curriculum in a manner appropriate to their pupils but basic skills and therapeutic provision like TACPAC and hydrotherapy are already happening alongside. You cannot deliver this cheaply and safely.

Many pupils with SEND fall outside of the special school system, often on the basis of cognitive ability even if their other needs are severe. How many of these children should be deprived of the chance of some formal qualifications on the basis that they would be no good to an employer, anyhow? There are so many older adults who are functionally illiterate because no one thought they were worth educating. Is that something we should return to?