Reform councils to cut SEN spending

They will just fuck up the councils then just blame central government for not providing the funds. The gullible who vote for them will swallow it. They know what they’re doing and they won’t care because they know their target voter base will believe anything. It might actually help their cause at the next GE. They’re so predictable.

A diagnosis of dyslexia does not qualify someone for access arrangements.

It’s ridiculous that you think some generic basic skills course will cover need for all kids with SEn.

And again- you don’t need a diagnosis to get access arrangements. The waits are insane for diagnosis anyway and you need evidence to even get through screening so do give up with this narrative.

It is absolutely legal, and has happened year on year in my local council.

i think that the point about formal education is worth considering , maybe there is a case for a basic skills education from 11 or younger with focus on basic literacy and numeracy. I don’t think any idea should be off the table as the current system doesn’t work and is not affordable. The increased diagnosis at the one end of the Sen spectrum has encouraged others to seek diagnosis to gain access arrangements and that is a fact. Exam boards have tightened this up as it has been misused and it is unequal across the board

This!

DS2 's "formal" education in basic skills, literacy and numeracy (working towards entry level 2, there) is absolutely essential in giving him a basic understand of the world and the ability to have a voice and a better chance of keeping himself safe and well. We won't be here to look after him forever and his care will be expensive enough when we're gone without him having been left to line up crayons and regress through lack of stimulation for his first 25 years.

His education is no less important to society than yours was.

There are many with EHCPs who most definitely can be independent and need EHCPs for the outcomes they need that are relevant to them.

And how do you envisage that saving the country money in the long run?

Do you believe that pretending children with SEND have no need of any intervention and support will have no negative impact on them and the non-SEND children who are expected to learn alongside them? Or the teachers who are expected to educate them and 30 other kids?

If even more SEND children end up out of school as a direct result of lack of support or an appropriate classroom environment than there already are, would you be happy to divert money to the benefits bill of parents who are consequently unable to work?

What do you think adulthood will look like for children with SEND whose needs have been ignored? Do you believe they are likely to reach adulthood without a greater need for health and social care interventions than if they had received appropriate and targeted support and interventions at school?

And if we write someone off as a child then what chance do they have of ever being able to contribute to society in some way?

If we had gone from when DS was first in primary school he could have been written off. He is now in year 10 and with a fantastic support package is looking likely to pass his GCSEs. I have no idea what the future holds for him but I know from having the best package we could get in place for him he has the best chance possible.

sadly it took me threatening to take the LA to court to get the proper support in place. Thankfully both of his schools have been amazing and have helped us every step of the way.

Tell Ofsted.

Suggestions?

The data shows increasing numbers of Sen, the data shows increasing access arrangements. There needs to be a rethink as to how the system works , at present it is not working and too costly.

You can totally use statistics to disadvantage and victimise the vulnerable, yes. Doesn't mean you should.

But the data has been commissioned and done by those who are complaining about EHCPs and focusing on outcomes many EHCPs aren’t working towards. It’s meaningless.

It’s manipulated data by councils to get out of funding EHCPs and ludicrous. Where is the proper data?

Where is the data for pupils whose goals are a lot lower or higher say just to get functional maths or English or level 3? There are a whole host of important goals that aren’t “expected”or level 2 on EHCPs and never will be. Being able to read and write is as important for some children as expected and level 2 are for others.

They absolutely have for individual children! People aren't statistics.

So basically they’re saying unless you’re likely to get “expected”or level 2 which many with an EHCP won’t and why would you need one if you were you’re not worthy of an education, making progress or achieving educational goals relevant to you. 🤔

The people who commissioned the report and did the report are the people whining about having to fund SEN so hardly non biased.

And this is all they had to say re outcomes

”At the end of primary school in 2022/23, only 8 per cent of children and young people with EHCPs achieved the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics – exactly the same percentage who achieved that level in 2016/17. At the other end of the age spectrum, only 30 per cent of young people with EHCPs achieved Level 2 by age 19 compared with nearly 37 per cent who achieved this level in 2014/15.”

Many on EHCPs don’t have “expected “ or “level 2” as a goal because they will never ever reach that. They have lower targets - which they attain and wouldn’t without an EHCP.

No diagnosis is needed for access arrangements.

Mine too ❤️

Yes, they can decide how many educational psychologists and specialist teachers to employ.