SCN0542
Written evidence from Parental Submission 185
- Unsure where or how to begin for something that has affected my two sons over the last two decades but briefly would like to say it has mostly been a battle all the way.
- My sons are now aged 27 and 19 years of age. Born and raised in [local authority]. When I found out my first son had special needs, felt lucky we lived in a Borough that had 'inclusive education'. Something that I thought was the best way forward for a child's education! What I didn't realise was, what a fight there was going to be ahead for the next couple of decades. Meetings with SENCOs, speech therapists, Head Teachers, Educational Psychologists. The meetings felt endless and unproductive.
- Maybe if we can share our experiences just a little, it might help other parents of special needs children who are in a similar situation right now. Maybe even get the Authorities to work positively with families instead of being unhelpful.
- Don't let [local authority] continue to hide under the 'Inclusion' umbrella. My boys' best years in Education began in a Post 16 Academy for Special Needs young people. Unfortunately my youngest son leaves their lovely establishment this Summer and I am already feeling worn down trying to find something that will replace the Academy and the wonderful staff there. We don't want a sitting service at College or a Day Centre, we still want their education to carry on for years to come to exercise their minds.
June 2018