Families want police action over SEND 'failings'

The group handed in a folder detailing what it described as "abuse" to South Yorkshire Police on Friday

Parents of children with additional needs have claimed a police force is not investigating what they say is emotional and physical abuse against their children in schools.

A number of parents from Barnsley submitted a 650-page folder to South Yorkshire Police on Friday.

Their allegations include the nature of physical restraint used against students and emotional abuse, through the children not having their needs met for learning,

South Yorkshire Police said it had received a folder and was "currently working through this". Barnsley Council did not wish to comment when approached.

James, who is part of group Barnsley Send which advocates for support for children who have special education needs and disabilities (SEND), said: "The actual institutions who are supposed to be safeguarding their needs are completely neglecting them, and not only that they're not listening to the parents' concerns."

He called for an "urgent independent inspection".

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, was said to have told Barnsley Send their child was sent home from school because "he was not in a very good mood".

Another said their child had physical disabilities but the school felt, despite "numerous meetings with professions", he did not meet the threshold for diagnosis.

'Civil matters'

This meant he may not have been given the support he needed to learn, causing him distress, the group said.

A grandparent claimed their grandson was restrained by school staff "all day everyday".

South Yorkshire Police reportedly told James the cases were "civil matters" and would not amount to a criminal investigation.

When asked by the BBC if this was the case, the force did not comment.

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