Some 200,000 children are being failed by England’s special educational needs system as their parents fight for the right support, according to new research.
Polling by national disability charity Sense found that two-fifths of parents had been forced to educate their disabled child at home because of a lack of local options or available funding.
Almost half of parents (46%) said they struggled to get an Education, Health and Care plan in place, and a similar number then faced obstacles getting the plan delivered.
Sense said this equated to issues getting the right support for 200,000 children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
Research also revealed that a third of parents of children with SEND had been forced to go to a tribunal to get their council to agree to fund their child’s education.
Last year, 98% of such tribunals were decided in parents’ favour.
Sense chief executive Richard Kramer said: ‘We urge the new Government to set out an improvement plan for SEND in its upcoming Children’s Wellbeing Bill.
‘The issue is only getting worse; we need the Government to prioritise the needs of disabled children.’
