Deaf News: The Government’s SEN proposals “offer little for vast majority of families of deaf children,” say NDCS

The National Deaf Children’s Society has said that the Government’s Special Educational Needs proposals, which were announced yesterday, “offer little for the vast majority of families of deaf children,” and that while their SEN proposals (which give parents control of budgets) may give parents more choice and control, “in reality there will be little support left for parents to choose from.”

Jo Campion, Deputy Director of Policy and Campaigns at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “Today’s announcement comes at a time when families are seeing support for their children vanish, along with aspirations for their futures, as the staff and budgets that enable deaf and other disabled children to achieve are cut. The Government’s latest proposals show no real plans to protect these services, which are right now being swept away in a tidal wave of local authority cuts.

“While we welcome more choice and control for parents in principle, in reality there will be little support left for parents to choose from. The proposals also offer little for the vast majority of families of deaf children who don’t currently have a statement of special educational needs and therefore won’t have an education, health and care plan – around three quarters of all deaf children in school.

“As these plans are rolled out, it’s vital that the Government listens to parents of disabled children about how personal budgets and their other proposals work in reality, and we will continue to work with the Government to make sure they find the best way forward for families and deaf children.”

Find out more about the work of the NDCS at http://ndcs.org.uk

The Limping Chicken is supported by Deaf media company Remark!, training and consultancy Deafworks, and provider of sign language services Deaf Umbrella.