SEND: Parents in Norfolk say needs 'not identified'

Most parents who took part in a survey said they felt schools in Norfolk did not meet special educational needs

A survey has found that most parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Norfolk do not feel their requirements have been identified.

Almost half said they were not happy with how they had been supported by social services.

More than 500 parents and carers took part in the survey.

The county council said it had hired more staff to boost children's support and it was building more SEND schools.

The survey showed 62% of those who answered questions said they did not think their child's needs had been identified, while 48% said they were not happy with the support they had received from social care or early help services.

'Parents are desperate'

Pat Brickley, joint chair of the Norfolk SEN Network, which supports parents, said she was not surprised by the results.

"Parents are desperate, to be honest. They're desperate to get the right provision, and they're going to people who they think should be helping them and they're not getting that help."

She also noted that the number of people taking part in the survey had fallen from the previous year, suggesting that families were "disillusioned" with the support they received.

Gary Olive's son has been out of school for almost three months

Gary Olive is one parent who said he had become disillusioned with the system. His 10-year-old son, Samuel, is autistic.

Samuel struggled in a mainstream school, so the council paid for a place for him at the private Steiner School in Norwich.

In September, the school said it was no longer appropriate for Samuel to study there. Since then, Samuel has been home-schooled.

Mr Olive wants his son back in lessons, but said support from the council had so far been "totally inadequate".

He added: "The length of time it takes to get this through the system is weeks and months. It's time-critical - three months down the line and we're no further forward."

The Steiner School said it could not comment on Samuel's case.

Councillor Penny Carpenter said the council would use the survey to "inform" how it develops its services

Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for children's services at the Conservative-controlled county council, said the authority worked as quickly as it could to find alternatives for children.

Responding to the survey results, she said the council was investing a further £100m in SEND provision and that she sympathised with parents.

"The feedback from the latest survey will help to inform how we develop services further over the next year," she said.