Draft SEN legislation - worrying!

[AgnesDiPesto]

SOSSEN views on draft legislation here

If you have views you can submit them to Ambitious About Autism by 11 October here although probably other routes too.

SOSSEN urging everyone to complain to their MP about removing parental rights.

It is pretty shocking stuff. I will write to my MP and would ask everyone I know to send a letter to their local MP's as well. I don't mean to sound lazy but before I attempt a letter, is there a template for a draft letter to the MP's which we could all use. (no need to reinvent the wheel and all that)

Thanks Agnes. I think I feel a letter to my MP coming on.

Could Mumsnet make this one of their campaigns.

Reduced parental rights + harsh penalties against those parents who do dare complain/stand up for their child = disaster for so many children. Especially given that those with average cognitive ability will have reduced access to services under the new system (CP, Asd/AS, ADHD, deaf, blind,dyslexics & dyspraxics) to name but a few groups who will suffer.

This is scary. Is it only England where this is going to be imposed or will Scotland, Wales and Ireland also be included (predicts swift mass exodus of familes from England if this is to be the case).

My very autistic DS2 has average IQ, but couldn't manage a day at school without support.

This is awful..especially the removal of appeals and the mandatory mediation service...
Can you explain what does it mean that it's paper, it means it goes to parliament for approval still?

Absolutely disgraceful way to treat families an vulnerable children.

Decide a system isn't working based on the huge number of complaints and money wasted on handling them. Find a solution by removing rights to complain.

Sorry there is suggested letter on SOSSEN (known by other charities as 'a bit militant'). I had not realised half this stuff had been slipped into the legislation. No wonder they got rid of Sarah Teather as she would have been contradicting herself. If its true and it goes through I think I shall be chaining myself to Downing Street gates.

I agree Hothead they want to have to fight the same legal fights again but this time as there will be no legal aid parents won't be able to win as they won't be able to afford the big hitter barristers.

No one suggested penalties against parents. A very high percentage of replies to the Green Paper suggested penalties against LAs.

Thanks Agnes.

I am so upset to read this it's wrong. Life is so difficult if you have ASD or other developmental disorders. I see my ds struggle with school everyday despite him being of average intelligence. He has cried until 11pm last night and I stayed with him and he has been upset again tonight saying he can't cope at school. I have no idea where to turn for help and feel like a rubbish mother. Reading this just makes me feel even more lost!

Have followed your lead and reported on the basis of - don't ask, don't get.

This is too serious not to have a campaign with as high a profile as possible. I'm not the Millie Tant type, but too many young lives will be completely ruined by this ill considered bill, if it's allowed to go through in it's current format. It effectively removes any kind of accountability at a practical level for LA's & schools.

Have also reported. Letter planned for tomorrow morning.

Thanks for posting this, agnes.

Have reported and emailed MP.

This is utterly disgraceful. Where is the evidence base for this crap?

I will certainly contact my MP (though he is sadly a Tory) and respond to the 'consultation'.

It would be nice to see mumsnet throw their considerable weight behind some campaigning on this - it will have a massive effect on vulnerable children....how about it MN HQ?

Why don't we try and pull people together around this issue? We have talked about campaigning before. We have links and contacts and skills between us.

Let's put our heads together and think of something concrete.

You can submit evidence directly to the Select Committee here

I have done this before several times. PM me if you want to help

What SOSSEN have said is seriously scary. I have skimmed the draft and hadn't realised the implications; I did pick up on the compulsory mediation bit but it wasn't clear whether the parent could still appeal while going through mediation, or whether a timetable would apply.

The silence from IPSEA, NAS, etc is deafening! I will be bending the ear of my MP.

Agree Mumsnet should start a campaign, and will report my post.

The timetable for the new legislation seems to be:
3 Sept 2012 - Publication of draft 'provisions' for the SEN section of the Children and Families Bill.
7 September 2012 - Call for evidence announced by Education Select Committee (submissions to be sent by midday on 11 October 2012) so that they can conduct pre-legislative scrutiny
January 2013 - Bill to be introduced into the House of Commons;
March 2013 onwards - Final evaluation of the Pathfinders' findings published with these to be fed back into the legislative process;
May 2013 - Bill to be 'carried over' into next Parliamentary session;
Early 2014 - Bill to receive Royal Assent (where it becomes the Children and Families Act)
Late 2014 onwards - implementation of the Act.

AP is right the first step is to put any comments to the select committee by 11 Oct. I need to read it all through and see if SOSSEN's take is correct.I have read some stuff which says this is meant to be a rough draft and there should be more detail in the bill but clearly its important to point out what is missing.

I think a campaign is a great idea and MNHQ will have time to get that sorted by Jan 2013 when the bill comes out & line up the Minister etc - it seems to me that the time to lobby MPs will be Jan 2013 when the Bill is finalised. So that gives us time to get organised!

Does anyone have a link to the actual draft?

I took from the link above that I can't request a SA, school can't either and if there is a disagreement with the LA I am forced to go to mediation but if I disagree with them I get fined.

Someone put me straight please - surely I have misunderstood?

I haven't got an MP thanks to the resignation of Louise Mensch.

I've read the draft legislation several times; no mention of who can apply for a statutory assessment so i wonder if that will be in the COP, or regulations? The mediation bit is really worrying; a lot of talk is done before you get to a stand off type situation iyswim?
Can't see anything on penalties for parents- unless someone can point that bit out we need to avoid repeating it.

www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm84/8438/8438.pdf
for those requesting it.

thanks