Special needs children are not getting the education and support they need, research shows

Special needs children are not getting the education and support they need, research shows

Almost a quarter of children with special education needs are not in school, according to a poll by the National Education Union (NEU).

The poll of over 440 parents shows over 40 per cent of SEND pupils over the age of four are not in full-time school and half of parents are not happy about the type of provision their child is in.

The research also shows that parents are struggling to get their children diagnosed in terms of special needs, with 36 per cent having to wait over two years for a diagnosis.

Fifty per cent note waiting over a year.

Three quarters (74 per cent) of parents complain that they are not given adequate support to help their child.

According to the research, parents believe that more SEND provision would help their child (77 per cent) and 72 per cent believe easier access to support after a child has been diagnosed would also help.

In addition, 58 per cent say there needs to be shorter diagnosis times.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: “It is appalling that so many children with special needs are not getting school places and are not getting the help they need.

“Parents of children with special needs have enough of a struggle without having to fight to get a diagnosis for their child or to get a school place. We know that 8,000 SEND children round the UK don’t currently have a school place – this simply is not good enough. The Government needs to get its act together and make sure these children receive the help and support they need.”

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