SEN proposals: Sense replies

Commenting on the Government’s changes to support given to children with special educational needs laid out in ‘Support and Aspiration’, John Dickinson-Lilley, deputy head of public policy at national deafblind charity Sense, says: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to improve the special educational needs framework because currently too many disabled children are not getting the support they need at critical times. There are at least 3,000 deafblind /multi-sensory impaired children out there now who are not identified by the system. 

“It is crucial that the proposals ensure every deafblind child is identified from an early age or onset of their disability – otherwise these reforms which are set out to help vulnerable children will be pointless.

“Presently families are enduring a fraught and complex system and are often subject to significant delays within local authorities so we welcome a single assessment and plan for health, education and social care for disabled young people aged 0-25. It is critical for these reforms to have any effect that there are clear statutory obligations on all education, health and social care agencies and settings including academies and free schools.”