Latest News for Parents & Carers

Thirty-two areas of England are set to trial long-awaited reforms for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the government has announced and ministers say seven new special free schools will soon be built, creating over a thousand places for children with SEND to receive “high-quality specialised learning”. The expansion of SEND provisions comes with 17% of pupils now being considered as having special educational needs, according to minister for children Claire Coutinho.

Concern is growing over provision for children with special educational needs after new figures revealed that a record number of complaints have been upheld by England’s local government ombudsman this year. Analysis of the decisions showed that some children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) had been without a school placement for more than a year.

Actor Tommy Jessop was in one of the biggest TV shows of 2021 – Line of Duty. He was certain it would lead to bigger and better roles, but when the show wrapped, the phone stopped ringing. Not one to take things lying down, he decided to write a screenplay and pitch it to Hollywood.

Contact Families is delighted to hear that Unity Mutual are helping parents access savings held in Child Trust Funds on behalf of disabled youngers who lack mental capacity to manage their money. Unity Mutual joins One Family, Foresters and Colombia Threadneedle who have put in place schemes to help families. Contact your Child Trust Fund provider to ask about accessing your child’s savings.

Finding a home for adults with complex care needs can be a challenge many families face. But one couple decided to try something new and developed a care home for their son which has gained international interest.