Worcestershire families share struggles with SEN support, citing diagnosis delays, lack of resources, and systemic failures.
Social services denied his assessment, saying he didn’t meet support criteria. Laura is 39 and lives in Redditch. They were homeless in Birmingham when Zac was excluded and wasn’t yet diagnosed with autism. People said she couldn’t get an EHCP for a “naughty” child, which was heartbreaking for her.
Zac got his autism diagnosis later. A school in Chaddesley Corbett helps him now, but they face a new struggle for respite care. She fought for a year but was denied, before the need assessment, feeling it’s discrimination that targets kids with hidden disabilities.
Laura made a stage two complaint for assessment but didn’t meet the criteria. So, she escalated to stage three and then contacted the ombudsman. A 100-page report followed her complaint, and an investigator listed failures by the local authority.
The report showed failures, but even so, the local authority refused changes. Stage three suggested another assessment, which happened, and they await results. The family felt failed at every step; respite helps families, and the waiting list is very long, taking up to two years for a short break. They need support now.
Laura isn’t alone. An Ofsted report showed SEN support failings. Karen Tomlinson’s son was diagnosed at 11 after a teacher sought his EHCP. Karen knew something was wrong earlier; doctors told her to wait until he turned eight, thinking he would “grow out of it.”
He got more help in middle school, but he couldn’t stay in mainstream school. He’s been out of school nearly a year, misses friends, and his mental health is declining. Showing no support is soul-destroying.
She emails the local authority constantly because most SEN schools can’t meet his needs. One school is far, over 40 minutes away, and the local authority should listen. More SEN schools are needed, and schools with autism bases help too. Teachers and doctors need better awareness, earlier diagnosis helps, and specialist schools need time.
Karen attends Laura Jordan’s SEN group. Laura helps families navigate the system, sharing advice and experiences. The group helps other families, which means a lot to Laura, who supports families with similar issues.
She thought about stopping the group because it adds stress to helping her own children, but she can’t abandon families who need her. The group is good, but it should not be needed; the local authority should support children.
One parent with three SEN kids loves the group because it makes parents feel less alone, understanding the journey can be very lonely. Her 15-year-old daughter has autism and ADHD, also a sleep disorder and hypermobility, and she struggled five years for CAMHS support, worsening her mental health.
A plan started in her school’s EMAB, but her attendance kept falling. Her behavior got worse at school, and pressure stressed her, so attendance was only 14 percent, which someone called “good” attendance.
The parent pulled her from school because trauma caused her to feel safer at home. They said she couldn’t get a home tutor, but the local authority gave her one. They now consult with 15-20 more schools, but her caseworker is unreachable.
Her daughter is a year 10 student, and finding a new school now isn’t worth it. Staying home costs less, and a new place might not help her feel safe. She wants to take GCSEs and wants a safe place to do them, saying she would attend if she felt safe.
The 32-year-old has had a better experience, where her son got a special school quickly, noting the process shouldn’t be so hard. She praised family support workers, who have high workloads and support many kids.
Laura and she advocate for their kids, wanting them happy as parents; although asking for help is hard, it is frustrating when people refuse. Some give up, but parents of SEN kids cannot because their kids can’t advocate for themselves.
Redditch MP Chris Bloore talks about SEN issues often. He has 300 active cases from parents from Bromsgrove and Worcester too, calling about SEN and SEND support.
The issues include placements and withdrawals, with some kids going to mainstream school. The issues keep getting out of hand, so he meets schools and families to discuss building a good system. The government invests in SEND support, but the whole system needs fixing because it’s not working, and they must reform the system and listen to families.
He’s terrified hearing people’s stories, noting EHCPs are too hard to get, and support or placements may be far from home. Worcestershire Council will invest over £30 million in special educational needs, lasting for three years.
This will create education in Worcestershire and improve local access, easing the council’s budget. Councillor David Chambers commented, stating that suitable education is needed for kids with SEND. This big investment will help provide it and should reduce the reliance on high-cost options, creating chances for kids with SEND.
They are listening to parent carers and pros, and their voices will shape improvements. They know access to local education matters, meeting kids’ needs is key, and the council is committed to improving this.