SCN0327

Written evidence from Parental Submission 180

Summary

1. This submission is from a mother of a child diagnosed with Autism, Sensory Processing disorder and ADHD. She has complex learning difficulties, mental health, communication and sensory difficulties.

• School took 3 years to explain to me that they had concerns
• Parent blaming was apparent until diagnosis
• Mental Health Issues have not been taken seriously with little/no support
• EHCP assessment request and assessment is unlawful, untruthful and clear cost cutting
• Professionals have not done full assessment as they should, signposting elsewhere for someone else to carry the cost

Main submission

The assessment of and support for children and young people with SEND 

2. The local authority refused to assess initially and then with no further evidence they decided to assess on the second request because the first was going through tribunal.

3. Assessments were only given by professionals already involved despite a reasonable request for other services to carry out an assessment (mental health)

4. schools support decreased during the process and told to wait for the EHCP when challenged.

Parent Blaming

5. Parents told their child’s difficulties are because they work full time, too hard on child, too easy on child, child has meltdowns or anxieties “just to wind parents up”

6. Parents made to feel pushy, an inconvenience and generally like they are not cared about

7. Parents put on workshops, this is the only support received or offered. Parents expected to become therapists, psychologist’s, doctors and when parents have tried everything they are still pushed back for more workshops rather than children actually receiving assessments and 1-1 support.

The level and distribution of funding for SEND provision

8. Child receives time with someone else’s allocated TA before EHCP is issued, this child is then not receiving the 1-1 provision they have the legal right too

9. Basic provisions for children not accessible, sensory equipment, coloured paper/overlays, special grip pencils all supplied by parents because school have no budget

10. Children’s playgrounds painted which is a luxury, basic provisions not met before luxuries

The roles of and co-operation between education, health and social care sectors

11. Social care not even contacted us during EHCP assessment, not known to services is the response

12. No access to CAMHS because “Child is not suicidal” despite child already self-harming, GP cant assess for anti-anxiety meds, 6 months waiting time for paediatrician appointment so child suffers in the meantime. No access to Speech and language therapy because “child is not at risk of choking” despite SLT being the professionals who can help with social communications which then causes anxieties which then in turn causes self-harm.

Recommendations

13. Local Authorities policies should comply with the law, agree to assess based on the fact there may be a special educational need and should not need hundreds of pages of evidence. All professionals contacted should have to respond with an assessment and should not be allowed to respond with not known.

14. Parents should be taken seriously and not blamed or sign posted elsewhere

15. Children should have the right to be seen by professionals for mental health issues before it is too late

16. Children should have access to SLT’s when there is social communication issues

17. Parents should have more support and not have to research themselves the law and then question this with the professionals

June 2018