Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)	Defending children's right to special education provision
Ombudsman slates Suffolk December 2004 Back to home page	PRESS RELEASE ... PRESS RELEASE ... PRESS RELEASE Ombudsman slates Suffolk over treatment of special needs children ... IPSEA says all parents of children with SEN should scrutinise their children's Statements The Local Government Ombudsman has today criticised Suffolk County Council for refusing to specify the help children should receive in Statements of Special Educational Needs. A Statement is meant to provide a legal guarantee that a child with special educational needs will get the support they need at school. But unless that support is clearly specified in a Statement, the guarantee cannot work. IPSEA (a national charity supporting children with SEN and their parents) is concerned that literally hundreds of children with learning difficulties or disabilities in Suffolk may not have been receiving the help they need as a result of the Council removing their guarantee to support. In his report on Suffolk, released today, the Ombudsman concludes: 'Statements of SEN should specify clearly the provision necessary to meet each need of the child. When Stephen's Statement was amended on his transfer to secondary school, the Council removed the quantification of hours more/- in line with its practice at the time. But provision should normally be quantified. The Council has since amended its practices to conform to the Code of Practice, but it was at fault with its previous policy, and, in particular, its failure to specify special educational provision in Stephen's case.' The Ombudsman has asked Suffolk to pay Stephen's parents £1,000 in recognition of the stress they have experienced and has asked the Council to 'review all other statements where it has failed to specify the nature of the support.' IPSEA is calling on all parents of children with Statements in Suffolk to: Scrutinise their Statements to make sure that the help their child should receive is quantified (in terms of numbers of hours or lessons a week). If the help is not quantified, their child may not be receiving sufficient support; If the help is not quantified, parents should write immediately to the Council requesting the 'review' which the Ombudsman has now said should happen. 3. If parents need help making sense of their child's Statement, or with writing to Suffolk County Council they should contact IPSEA immediately on 0800 018 4016. ENDS Note: Report on an Investigation into Complaint No 03/A/09667 against Suffolk County Council. For comment from the Ombudsman, ring 0207 915 3210.
Back to top

Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

Defending children's right to special education provision

Ombudsman slates Suffolk

PRESS RELEASE ... PRESS RELEASE ... PRESS RELEASE

Ombudsman slates Suffolk over treatment of special needs children ...

IPSEA says all parents of children with SEN should scrutinise their children's Statements

The Local Government Ombudsman has today criticised Suffolk County Council for refusing to specify the help children should receive in Statements of Special Educational Needs.

A Statement is meant to provide a legal guarantee that a child with special educational needs will get the support they need at school. But unless that support is clearly specified in a Statement, the guarantee cannot work.

IPSEA (a national charity supporting children with SEN and their parents) is concerned that literally hundreds of children with learning difficulties or disabilities in Suffolk may not have been receiving the help they need as a result of the Council removing their guarantee to support.

In his report on Suffolk, released today, the Ombudsman concludes:

'Statements of SEN should specify clearly the provision necessary to meet each need of the child. When Stephen's Statement was amended on his transfer to secondary school, the Council removed the quantification of hours more/- in line with its practice at the time. But provision should normally be quantified. The Council has since amended its practices to conform to the Code of Practice, but it was at fault with its previous policy, and, in particular, its failure to specify special educational provision in Stephen's case.'

The Ombudsman has asked Suffolk to pay Stephen's parents £1,000 in recognition of the stress they have experienced and has asked the Council to 'review all other statements where it has failed to specify the nature of the support.'

IPSEA is calling on all parents of children with Statements in Suffolk to:

Scrutinise their Statements to make sure that the help their child should receive is quantified (in terms of numbers of hours or lessons a week). If the help is not quantified, their child may not be receiving sufficient support;
If the help is not quantified, parents should write immediately to the Council requesting the 'review' which the Ombudsman has now said should happen. 3. If parents need help making sense of their child's Statement, or with writing to Suffolk County Council they should contact IPSEA immediately on 0800 018 4016.

ENDS

Note:

Report on an Investigation into Complaint No 03/A/09667 against Suffolk County Council. For comment from the Ombudsman, ring 0207 915 3210.