Do you have questions on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) Review? Ask Minister for Children and Families, Will Quince MP

[GraceEMumsnet]

Created for Department for Education

The Department for Education is seeking views on the changes they want to make to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) system in England. For further information visit SEND Review.

Read below for Will Quince's answers to some of your questions.

About Will Quince MP:

“Will Quince is the MP for Colchester and was appointed as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education on 16 September 2021. As Minister for children and families, his responsibilities include children’s social care, families, children in care, children in need, child protection, adoption and care leavers, early years, special educational needs including high needs funding, alternative provision and vulnerable children.”

Here’s what DfE has to say:

“We have listened to many children, young people, parents, teachers and those who work for and advocate for children with special educational needs and disabilities, to ensure our proposals were shaped by those who work within the system and those who should benefit from it. However, it is critical that we hear from even more people to gain invaluable feedback and expertise from a wide range of perspectives before final decisions are made. Our public consultation is open until the 1st of July, and we want everyone to have their say and help to shape the future of the system. For further information visit: http://sendreview.campaign.gov.uk”

Thanks, MNHQ!

Mumsnet Insight T&Cs apply

The official tribunal appeal rate figure for 2019 was 1.8%. It’s published here www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2021

The official appeal rate for 2021 should be out in the next couple of weeks.

These figures are bollocks though. They massively underestimate the real appeal rate - LA incompetence & bastardry mean that a lot of opportunities to appeal just don’t materialise.

twitter.com/captaink77/status/1526600038608150528?s=21&t=hintuNGS150uCyn_HxuYEg

Yes. How many families who receive an appealable decision understand that they could appeal? Are signposted to support services by schools/LAs? The number of appeals that are won once appealed is usually pretty telling, not to mention how many appeals are settled before tribunal but after the family has had to set wheels in motion.

Using statistics against families who live the reality is a bit of an insult.

Hi Will
I appreciate you acknowledging my questions and you can rest-assured I have completed my responses formally too. What I do not understand is why you think the current position where a parent could name any school anywhere in the country, would be improved by a restricted list.

I am also concerned about the "informed preferences". I think you need to consult with the ICO about demanding consent, which is what the proposal sounds like. If the situation does not actually allow for it e.g. the parent choice is restricted, you should not request they sign to say they have consented.

I'm not sure if you are aware that currently there is no means of recording when it is the LA that has refused to mediate. This is probably because they should not do this, but it absolutely happens. It would be easy to add this as an option to the mediation certificate process, and give the ability to monitor which LAs have a cultural of refusing to adhere to their statutory duties. It should also include the LA not turning up at the mediation meeting, again something that happens.

It is really disappointing you did not answer the value for money question on independent settings - if you are stating something is poor VfM then you should show your workings.

Most of all, I hope you listened to the Chief Executive of IPSEA Ali Fiddy speaking last week. If you really want to ensure children with SEN needs are met, then you need to hold the LAs to account, not remove rights from parents to enforce them.

I actually really wonder what the point is of chats like this. Effectively the politician gets a platform to spout one sided platitudes without being challenged. As ever so many questions left unanswered. I think it should be a condition of coming on that they at least answer every question. They have plenty of staff to prepare their answers and are paid with public money.