An independent inquiry (by Brian Lamb) found that too many parents in England of children with special educational needs struggled to obtain appropriate support, and that the system needed a 'radical overhaul'. It recommended introducing improved independent appeals panels for children with SEN who were excluded from school. It also suggested that codes of practice be reviewed so that local authorities and schools needed to consider a child's needs first, rather than the cost of services.
Source: Lamb Inquiry: Special Educational Needs and Parental Confidence, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Report | Hansard | DCSF press release | NDCS press release | ISC press release | Contact a Family press release | NASUWT press release | Children & Young People Now report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2009-Dec
The National Assembly for Wales approved a measure giving children and young people with special education needs new rights of appeal with regard to their education.
Source: Education (Wales) Measure, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Measure | Explanatory notes
Date: 2009-Nov
A new annual statistical publication provided a wide range of information about children in England with special educational needs.
Source: Children with Special Educational Needs 2009: An analysis, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Oct
The government announced that it had accepted interim recommendations (from an independent inquiry) designed to provide better support for pupils in England with special educational needs (SEN) and for disabled children. The measures included: testing easier ways of assessing children with special educational needs; reviewing the existing and future supply of teachers trained to meet the needs of pupils with severe learning difficulties; and new guidance for schools to tackle the high rates of exclusion for children with SEN.
Source: Press release 28 September 2009, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0870 000 2288)
Links: DCSF press release | Letter from Lamb Inquiry | NASEN press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Local Government Chronicle report | Community Care report
Date: 2009-Sep
An independent review of special educational needs (SEN) provision recommended that there should be a right of appeal for parents if a local authority decided not to amend a statement after a review; and to place a specific duty on the schools inspectorate to report on the quality of the education provided for disabled children and children with SEN. The government said that it accepted the recommendations, and committed itself to finding a legislative opportunity to make the changes needed.
Source: Brian Lamb, Quality and Clarity of Statements, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260) | Brian Lamb, Inspection, Accountability and School Improvement, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Letter | DCSF press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Aug
Researchers examined the experiences of parents (including foster and corporate parents) in relation to the special educational needs system of assessment, statementing, and appeal, in order to gain insights into perceived problems with the system.
Source: Clarissa Penfold, Nicky Cleghorn, Rosalind Tennant, Ian Palmer and Janet Read, Parental Confidence in the Special Educational Needs Assessment, Statementing and Tribunal System: Qualitative study, Research Report RR117, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2009-Jun
A report examined the impact of the specialist schools programme, including the programme for special educational needs. It concluded that good progress was being made in implementing the programme, and that it was having a positive impact on school performance.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers, High Performing Specialist Schools: Final Evaluation Report, Research Report RR109, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Jun
An independent review made recommendations designed to improve the provision of information to parents of children with special educational needs.
Source: Letter from Brian Lamb, 29 April 2009
Links: Letter | DCSF response | Hansard | DCSF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Apr
The government began consultation on proposals to give children and young people in England a right to appeal against decisions regarding exclusions from school, and against statements and assessments on special educational needs.
Source: Consultation on Giving Children and Young People a Right to Appeal, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2009-Apr
