The system for helping children with special educational needs in England is broken. Worse still, in Cheshire West and Chester it has ground to a halt.
- Only 6.5% of plans (EHCPs) were met within the legal timeframe in CW&C last year;
- Provisions are being put in place for children that go against recommendations;
- The SEND team have said that they know they are breaking the law, but can't do anything about it because of resources;
- Appeals to the Ombudsman are costly and not time efficient - children are missing out on years of school.
There are parents in Cheshire West and Chester who are facing severe financial hardship, on top of having to care for their families. Some are working two jobs to pay for assessments that should be done by the Council. Some are having to pay for solicitors to go to the Ombudsman to appeal decisions where their children have been put in inappropriate settings, contrary to medical advice. Some are having to pay privately for medication for their children. You can read some of the accounts on their X account @CWaCSA.
They just want their children to be happy and healthy.
Please give what you can to support these families. All of the money raised through this campaign will go to CWAC SEND Accountability (@CWaCSA).