Latest News for Parents & Carers

An army veteran has become the first disabled person to ski solo to the South Pole. It took Jonny Huntington 46 days to cross more than 500 miles of Antarctic ice. The 38-year-old from Devon suffered a stroke in 2014, which initially left him paralysed from the neck down on his left side.

The local government and social care ombudsman (LGO), which handles complaints about English councils, upheld 1,043 cases regarding Send provision in 2024 – nearly 40% more than in 2023, and four times more than the 258 upheld in 2021.

Former patients at Scotland’s biggest children’s psychiatric hospital have spoken out about a culture of cruelty among nursing staff. Patients who were teenagers when they were admitted to Skye House, a specialist NHS unit in Glasgow, told BBC Disclosure some nurses called them “pathetic” and “disgusting” – and even mocked their suicide attempts.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently at the Committee Stage of its passage through parliament but the bill does not do enough to ensure these clubs will be inclusive to children with SEND. Some children need specific dietary accommodations. Some need extra staff support during meal times.

Robert Taylor has a spinal condition that means he is unable to walk unaided. The 56-year-old, from South Normanton, Derbyshire, was left with mobility issues after complications during spinal surgery in 2019. He was referred for a wheelchair in February 2024 but is still waiting to receive the custom piece of equipment.