Special needs system has no empathy, says mum

Sam has not been able to work as she has to look after her son Seb

A mum from Staffordshire whose son has missed more than a year of education has said the council needs to show more empathy.

Seb, 11, who is autistic, is "completely assaulted" by the environment in mainstream education, his mum Sam said, and she wants to secure a place at a special school.

Staffordshire County Council has seen an increase in the number of children with special educational needs and those waiting for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which gives children extra support.

Council leader Alan White said the volume of cases was "almost overwhelming".

Sam, a former teacher from Penkridge, said the council turned down her original request for an EHCP.

She fought the authority in a tribunal and won, meaning it must provide one, but for now Seb has only a five-minute call a day with his mainstream school.

"I understand they [the council] have trouble with finances, but I am just trying to get the best for my son," she said.

"It feels like we don't really exist as human beings. There's no empathy or humanity in the system."

Seb's only contact with school is a five-minute phone conversation each day

Sam cannot work in the day as she has to be at home with her son.

She added: "I am exhausted. The local authority are never held accountable for the mental distress and financial distress they are causing."

Staffordshire County Council's children's services department is rated "requires improvement" and it is awaiting an inspection.

The Conservative-run council said in the past five years, the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) had increased by 30% to 22,800.

'Send crisis'

Speaking on Politics Midlands, Mr White said: "We try to treat every case sympathetically and listen to the needs of the parents and look at the needs of the child."

He added the council followed a national framework, which sets out the guidelines.

"Perhaps we need to reset the way education is funded and rethink the way children with Send are educated," he said.

Eight of the county's Labour MPs have written to Mr White asking for an urgent review of the system.

Adam Jogee, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, said he was setting up a Send forum in the town to bring together parents, schools and health bodies.

He said: "Day-in-day-out I am written to by families and teachers about the Send crisis in Staffordshire.

"Parents are constantly telling me they can't get answers to the plans, they can't get answers from the council and they can't find support that their children need at school."