Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who do not have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) consistently report the poorest experiences of the school system, according to a major new survey.
The report, published by the Parent Voice Project and conducted by Public First, finds that just 57% of parents of children with SEND but no EHCP rate the quality of their child's education as high, compared with 71% of parents of children without SEND.
More than half of SEND parents — 54% — found the assessment process difficult or very difficult to navigate, with the burden falling hardest on less affluent and non-graduate families.
However, securing an EHCP was found to transform families' experiences, improving communication with schools, clarity around support and overall satisfaction, according to the survey of 6,199 parents across England.
Parents described the process of obtaining one as a prolonged ‘battle,’ but said the plan provided vital validation and accountability.
In the foreword to the report, the founder of the Parent Voice Project Fiona Forbes wrote: ‘The experiences of families with children with SEND are particularly powerful. Again and again, parents describe how different the system feels depending on whether their child’s needs are formally recognised and supported.
‘An EHCP can represent validation and clarity. Without it, the path can feel uncertain and exhausting. Listening to these voices is essential if we are serious about building a system that works for every child.’
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