System 'failing SEN kids left with no school'

NO SPECIALIST SCHOOL PLACES AVAILABLE, SAY PARENTS

- KATIE OBORN

PARENTS say they have been left anxious after trying and failing to secure a suitable school place for their children with special educational needs (SEN).

Sarah Williams says she’s been trying to get her daughter Lillian-Louvain in a special school in the city, but there is “nowhere for her to go”. Her four-year-old is due to start school in September and she says the city council agreed that Lillian-Louvain needs a specialist setting as she has an education, health and care plan [EHCP], but there are “no specialist school places available”.

Lillian-Louvain has Sensory processing disorder (SPD) and is awaiting a likely diagnosis of autism.

Sarah, has documented her struggles on social media to raise awareness. After speaking to other parents in similar situations, Sarah says the lack of SEN schools “a national crisis”.

Plymouth City Council said it is “seeing increasing pressures on its special educational needs and disabilities [SEND] services”, with requests for SEN places “exceeding” the number of places available in the city – “like many other areas of the country”.