Robert Buckland Weblog

Since my letter about Special Educational Needs was published in the Swindon Advertiser in August, I have received a regular stream of messages from parents and practitioners who have had to battle for the needs of their children. The cases vary, but the common message is that for far too many parents, they face an uphill struggle. I am going through the process of trying to obtain a statement of special needs for my daughter, who has considerable speech difficulties. Although the educational professionals I have met have all been sympathetic, one is left feeling rather alone against the world. How many families out there have not even been able to reach the stage of applying for a statement? This makes me deeply concerned.

No, more than concerned. I am angry. Far too many children are not receiving intervention and help at the earliest opportunity. Too many local education authorities are not statementing children until it is far too late. The Government has failed to provide any leadership or clarity in this area. Their calls for integration led to a wholesale closure of special schools. Ministers now deny supporting this policy, but are content to let matters drift.

The House of Commons Education Select Committee published a report on SEN in July that was damning of Government policy. Its findings prompted me to make an effort to bring parents together so that a support and information network could be created. With the help of some friends in the local community, I have set up the first meeting of the Swindon Special Educational Needs Network, to be held at Wroughton Parish Church Hall at 7.15pm on Tuesday 21st November. Please send me a message if you want more details. All are welcome. I hope that it will be the start of something useful for local parents and practitioners.

Please come and join us. I don’t want to be part of a generation that will look back in thirty years and say that we let down thousands of children who needed special help.