‘THOUSANDS’ of children with special educational needs in Barnsley will benefit from groundbreaking new legal entitlements to an individual support plan under new plans announced by the government this week.
The plans, backed by £4bn of investment in SEND support to make every school inclusive, will end the ‘one-size-fits-all’ education system that has damaged the lives of too many children, according to Barnsley MPs Dan Jarvis and Stephanie Peacock.
In a radical expansion in rights and support for every child, there will be a new legal requirement for schools to create individual support plans (ISPs) for all children with SEND.
Every ISP will draw from a national framework of actions which schools can take to give children the best education and life chances, personalised by the teachers and specialists who know them best.
Current education, health and care plans (EHCPs) will be retained and improved, offering a wider legal entitlement beyond the ISP to more intensive or complex support than schools can routinely provide.
Demand for such support has surged, with a 140 per cent increase in the last decade and more than 3,000 children now have EHCPs in place in Barnsley.
Stephanie, a former teacher, said: “I have heard from families across the Barnsley community who have concerns about the SEND system.
“I know that many of these families feel that the system has been broken for some time and are worried about the effects this has on their children.
“The SEND system designed a decade ago for a small number of children is no longer fit for purpose.
“Parents should not have to fight tooth and nail for entitlements on paper that do not provide them with the additional support they need. Children’s lives and chances are suffering as a result.
“I welcome these new plans, which will take children with SEND from sidelined and excluded to seen, heard and included.
“Every child will get the brilliant support they deserve, when they need it, as routine and without a fight.
“We’re helping our children achieve and thrive at school so they go on to lead better lives and build a brighter future.”
Teachers will also learn about the things that can transform how children access education, such as using assistive technology - like speech to text dictation tools - and building awareness of additional needs amongst all pupils.
Dan added: “Having supported many parents with SEND issues in our town, I know how long families have waited for a system that properly supports their children.
“That’s why I welcome the government’s reforms - as do the experts.
“The Children’s Commissioner, the Council for Disabled Children and the Association of School and College Leaders have all welcomed Labour’s vision for a fairer, more inclusive SEND system.”
