Lincolnshire mum calls for changes in special needs schooling

Emma said Lilly was thriving at her new special school

A mum is calling for changes to the special educational needs system after a fight to get her daughter into a special school.

Emma, from Ruskington, Lincolnshire, said it required a tribunal hearing ruling in their favour to finally get her daughter Lilly a place.

She wants an independent body to decide if a child needs to attend a special school rather than a local authority.

Lincolnshire County Council said it was "rare" for cases to go to a tribunal.

12-year-old Lilly has been diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and SMD (Sensory Modulation Disorder).

Emma said Lilly was six when it became clear education in a mainstream school was not suitable for her.

"In school, her academics were starting to slow down and she was getting further away from her peers," she said.

"When she woke up in the morning it was very much a big struggle to get her up, dressed, all your normal daily routines. It was tears, it was meltdowns."

She said this was because her daughter was not coping with the school environment.

Lincolnshire County Council said it had spent pent £100m to create 500 extra special school places

In 2019, Emma submitted a formal request to Lincolnshire County Council for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment, as part of an application for a special school place.

However, the council said Lilly's needs could be met in a mainstream school.

The family appealed and a tribunal ruled in their favour.

Emma said the fight to get her daughter into a special school had "taken over" their lives but had been worth it.

"She has settled in absolutely amazingly," she said.

"In these last few months, she has achieved things she has never achieved in her life before."

Emma has begun a petition calling for an independent body staffed by specialists to assess children and develop their EHC plans rather than local authorities.

Sheridan Dodsworth, head of SEND at the county council, said it was "exceptionally rare for these cases to go to tribunal".

"Last year the appeal rate was only 1% and we always work to resolve any difference of opinion with families," she said.

"Of the 23,000 children and young people with SEND in Lincolnshire, the vast majority have their needs successfully met in a mainstream school with additional support.

"Only around 2,550 of these pupils require a special school place to meet their needs."

Lincolnshire County Council added it had spent £100m to create 500 extra special school places.