‘People give up’ – the crisis in school support for children with special needs

The government’s own figures show big rises in the numbers of education, health and care plan assessments being refused or delayed
• John Harris: SEN system is a howling disaster of the Cameron era

Two years ago, Ben Johnson, then aged nine, suffered a mental breakdown after years of difficulties at home and at school. His mother, Sonia Johnson, says he had deep anxiety and refused to go to school. From the first year of his schooling, she says, she had requested extra support, but the school did not offer the assistance she believed he needed. “I was made to feel I was hysterical and attention-seeking just for asking for support for my son’s needs,” she says.

The crisis brought things to a head. Ben’s GP signed him off. He has not been to school since.

Related: Schools battle to support special needs as teaching assistants lose jobs

Related: Cuts, cuts, cuts. Headteachers tell of school system ‘that could implode’

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2xLa6L9