BBC Women’s Hour

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions as I spent the past hour catching up on the BBC’s Women’s Hour episode ‘Is the SEND system working for children with special educational needs and disabilities?’ 

From a sense of gratitude that the BBC are shining a light of this important topic, to sadness and frustration that families are still struggling with the same issues I have been facing personally and with clients over the past five years. The programme stated that they have received an “overwhelming response” from mothers of SEND children to explain that the system is beyond broken, which hit me with a sense of renewed comfort and community, reminding me that there are many of us around in the UK and we are not alone.

The programme included a number of powerful testimonies, including that from Eastenders actress, Kellie Bright. She rightly said that every parent goes through their own journey regardless of whether their child has special educational needs or not. However, the additional pressure we face in our society, is the fight through the UK SEND system, which does not currently serve to support our children and families, but to make it as difficult as possible. It is the children and families who suffer from this, being made to the feel that there is not a place for them in the current education system. 

In my opinion, it should not and does not need to be this difficult. The legal framework is such that everyone’s rights are protected, however, in some cases, this is not being implemented efficiently and fairly by Local Authorities and schools. Thank you to Women’s Hour, which has given me the renewed purpose to continue to use my time and expertise to help families wade through the treacle in order to achieve the outcome they need to live their best lives going forward.

If it is of interest, you can access the programme here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0022ss7