Plea to parents over special needs review
A FERMANAGH mother has warned that time is running out for parents to have their say in a consultation which could remove many rights for special needs children.
The Department of Education is consulting on potentially significant changes as part of the Review of Special Educational Needs and Inclusion. But anyone wishing to respond to its proposals must do so by 30 November.
Mrs Susan Henshall from Enniskillen says that she has had a "fabulous" experience in sending her 15-year-old son Michael through mainstream education.
Although he has cerebral palsy, she was able to have him assessed by an educational psychologist before he started school. This resulted in him having a comprehensive official "statement" on his educational needs which the education system is legally obliged to meet.
However she believes that the Department of Education's proposals for change could mean an end to such legally enforceable rights for children with special educational needs.
"My concerns are for all those people that are coming after me who don't know what they don't know about this," she said.
"Many parents in similar situations coming after may not know to ask for special help for their children. And now they may face losing a key means of getting the special support they need."
Mrs Henshaw says that there are fears the new system will mean;-
* An end to ring-fenced funding for special education
* Special needs assessments being carried out by teachers instead of educational psychologists
* Resulting diagnoses of needs (statements) being replaced by Coordinated Support Plans (CSPs), which do not have legally enforceable rights
* Only a very small number of children currently entitled to statements getting CSPs.
"The Department of Education consultation ends on 30 November and I would urge people to make their voice heard on this," she said.
Assembly Education Committee member John McCallister of the Ulster Unionists said that a range of organisations have raised "grave concerns" at the proposals.
"We have heard parents expressing fears that with the removal of 'statementing', children will fall through the gaps," he said. "Too much pressure will be put on already over-burdened schools and teachers to have responsibility to special needs rather than - as is presently the case - the Education Boards."
"The suspicion exists that these proposals are solely driven by financial concerns rather than the interests of children with special needs".
A spokesman for the Department of Education said it has undertaken the review to address "a range of issues associated with the current special educational needs framework".
He added: "The review aims to ensure that every child and young person who faces a barrier to learning is given a fair and equal chance and is provided with the necessary support as early as possible to help them achieve their full potential."
He said the department cannot comment on ongoing consultations and that the closing date for responses is 30 November.
For more information see www.deni.gov.uk or call Review of SEN & Inclusion Team on 028 9127 9762.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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