A new report issued by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) brings together the opinions of parents and professionals on the Government’s plans for SEN as laid out in its Green Paper issued earlier this year.
The NFER conducted three pieces of research for the Local Government Group which focused on parents’ and young people’s views on residential education, local authority perceptions of how young people and their families will be affected by the Government’s proposals, and transition of young people with SEN to adult life and services.
The surveys’ findings show that the Green Paper proposals have received broad support from parents and professionals, particularly on the issues of early identification, a single assessment process and greater parental engagement. However, concerns were expressed about specific aspects of the suggested reforms – especially the single category of SEN, the exercise of parental choice of school, and accountability for services provided by the voluntary and community sector.
The current system is also shown to be failing many of those with SEN, particularly in relation to their transition to adult life. Parents also described the residential placement process as “stressful”.
The report, Local authorities’ perceptions of how parents and young people with special educational needs will be affected by the 2011 Green Paper, can be downloaded at:
www.nfer.ac.uk/research/projects/proposed-reforms-sen-disabilities/
