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Over 200,000 children and young people in London have
some level of special education need or disability. In the last
ten years there has been a 20 per cent increase in the number
with high-level needs and the types of need are increasingly
complex.[2]
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London requires thousands of new school places for
children with special needs.
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There are concerns that the level of funding provided
to schools for pupils with high needs is insufficient to
provide the quality support they need.
The London Assembly Education
Panel report examines the challenges facing
children and young people with Special Educational Needs and
Disability (SEND). The report recommends the Mayor of London:
- Keep pressure
on Government to ensure real terms funding increases per pupil
with high needs and the creation of new special schools, where
the need is greatest.
- Provide more
support for young people as they exit the school system and move
into the world of work.
- Support the
creation of a dedicated training centre for Special Educational
Needs Coordinators (SENCOs).
- Boost the
availability of high quality play spaces for children and young
people with SEND and fund initiatives to facilitate journeys on
public transport.
- Appoint a SEND
champion to promote the views of children and young people with
SEND within London Government.
OBE AM, Chair of
the Education Panel, said:
“London faces profound challenges regarding Special
Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), in terms of capacity and
funding. I’ve witnessed some truly inspiring work being done by
nursery staff, teachers, teaching assistants, health
professionals, council staff and volunteers, but this sector
needs close attention.
“The Mayor has a critical role to play in addressing the
challenges we have found. He needs to up his game and include
SEND in his Social Inclusion Strategy. Demand is increasing and
what will happen with these children and young people in terms of
their future job prospects? Our children deserve better”
Follow
us @LondonAssembly and take part
in the discussion
using #AssemblyEdu and #SEND
The report will be launched at Westbourne Park Bus
Garage at a ‘Bus
Day’ event. A group of young people with special
educational needs and disabilities and their parents and carers
will meet with bus drivers, who operate buses in their local
area. The event aims to make it easier for those with educational
needs and disabilities to get around the city and is organised in
association with Tower Transit, Transport for London (TfL) and
the charity Full of Life.
Date: Monday 23 July
Time: 10:30am-12 noon
Location: Tower Transit
Address: Westbourne Park Bus Garage, Great
Western Road, London, W9 3NW (Location map)
Closest station: Westbourne Park (Circle
and Hammersmith Lines)
Interviewees:
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OBE AM, Chair of
the Education Panel
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Sue Redmond, Joint Chair, Full of Life Charity
Notes for Editors:
- The report ‘Together: Transforming the lives of
children and young people with special education needs and
disabilities in London’ is attached.
-
Special educational
needs in England: January 2017
