Latest News for Parents & Carers

More than one in five pupils in England – around 1.8 million children – are receiving support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). That’s according to the first annual statistics published since the government set out plans to overhaul the SEND system and change the level of support children can get.

Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister has faced questions on the government’s support for disabled children. Mr MacAlister took question at last week’s parliamentary inquiry into children’s human rights in the social care system.

Almost two-thirds of school staff are concerned about keeping children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) safe at school because of a lack of capacity and resources, according to a new National Autistic Society (NAS) survey.

In a sign that our Child Trust Fund campaign’s momentum is not easing up, even more providers are now allowing young disabled people to access their savings without a costly and lengthy court process. Recently Nationwide, Santander, Coventry Bank and Co-Operative Bank are now offering a route that safeguards money but allows easier access to savings. But not all providers do this – HSBC doesn’t – so there is an unfairness in the system.

Fourteen-year-old Eryn, who has been blind since birth, made the three-hour round-trip for a screening of The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adapted from Enid Blyton’s book series. Eryn said the journey was necessary because the cinema was the only one her family could find offering audio description (AD) headsets.