Blackpool Council responds to 'broken' mum over poor SEND support which caused daughter's 'anorexia & anxiety'
“We do recognise how challenging it can be to navigate the current system for children with SEND.”
A Blackpool mum has spoken of her ordeal to get SEND provision for her three children but Blackpool Council has pledged improvements will be made.
In response, council chiefs have admitted that the current system of providing suitable education for children with special needs is "challenging".
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The authority was responding to the experiences of a Blackpool mother with three children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as she struggled for them to receive the educational chances they deserved.
The mum - whose children also have autism - says she is being pushed to "breaking point" having to deal with the red tape connected with navigating EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) applications, which she says is virtually a full-time job.
But Blackpool Council say they are doing everything to make the process easier for already hard-pressed parents.
‘We recognise how challenging it can be’
A spokesperson said: "We cannot comment on individual cases such as this. However, we do recognise how challenging it can be to navigate the current system for children with SEND.
"In Blackpool, we are committed to improving support for children and young people with SEND by strengthening EHCP processes, improving communication with families and investing in local provision so more children can access the right support close to home.
"We also welcome the Government's national SEND reform programme which aims to create a more consistent and sustainable system and we will continue to reflect the voices of our families locally as changes develop.
"We would encourage this parent to contact us directly so we can understand their individual circumstances and offer further support or, alternatively, access independent support from the Blackpool Parent Carer Forum or SENDIASS.
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‘Can’t undo the harm caused’
The mother also revealed her eldest child - who now has an EHCP and attends a specialist school, spent 16 months out of education while they waited for a SEND tribunal. She said the time spent out of school had a significant effect on her child, who now suffers from anorexia and anxiety and has trouble with her attendance.
"While the specialist placement is the right setting for her needs, she was left without suitable education and support for so long that the effects are still being felt today," she said .“This is something that is often overlooked within the SEND system. Winning a tribunal or securing an EHCP does not undo the harm caused by years of unmet needs, delays, and uncertainty.”