CornwallLive readers have been debating the recent protest by parents of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children in Cornwall. The parents, who feel their children's needs aren't being met by the local council, have been met with a range of reactions, from empathy to criticism.
Jenna Tyack, of Shortlanesend, says her daughter was enrolled in a new specialist school, Cardrew Court School in Redruth, which didn't suit her complex needs. Daisy, 12, was then given notice to leave after her parents raised concerns before Cornwall Council and the school made a U-turn last week, ensuring she now attends again.
The same thing happened to two other pupils, whose families also attended the protest. They all argue that the education provided at Cardrew Court did not match the original curriculum policies they were promised and didn't meet their daughters' individual needs. However, Cornwall Council has only stressed that Ofsted inspectors have commended its curriculum.
Jola99 feels: "Traditional schools do not meet the needs of the growing SEN population of students. I agree with the parents - and they should be trusted as the 'experts' regarding their children's needs and HOW they can be met successfully."
Anon89 believes: "It’s the prejudiced views of those similar to the comments here that mean a lot of the children and passed over as ‘naughty’ kids and the mainstream schools just don’t help. The older gen seems to think it’s made up and didn’t exist in their day. It very much did exist it’s the fact back then they were given up on or put into one box and labelled."
16Fairfield replies: "Sadly some parents want their kids 'labelled' as it means money, the same with schools."
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Sclem comments: "I really don't understand why SEN parents don't club together and set the very examples they demand - it seems that they're best placed to address the complex specific needs of their children."
Woody1961 says: "These people are classic takers. They give nothing and take whatever they can. If they truly had their kids' welfare at heart, they wouldn't be kicking off here and at their children's schools they would be working hard to support the many service providers they so vehemently moan about. In by far the most of cases, poor parenting is the reason these kids behave the way they do!"
Anon89 replies: "I have two children only one is SEND. One is doing remarkable in school polite well behaved (and a teen). The other is only in junior school but is SEND, people like you judging saying it’s parenting. Both my kids had the same parenting."
Sclem answers: "Respectfully, I don't agree with your whole sentiment - in the most general terms, I feel the parents of SEN children have been given a bad hand (for a genuine lack of better/shorter wording). It's not their fault that these families are in such situations - but it isn't anyone else's, either. They are in the best possible situations as to know what's best for their children and they're in the perfect position to act as advisors for such complex needs; I genuinely don't understand why more parents aren't putting forward the case to become qualified to better the situation, rather than appear to be so vocally critical of a failing system - be the change you want. Call me naive, or worse - I genuinely don't know any better and I'm certain I'm not the only one."
Do you believe that there is Cornwall Council are providing enough resources for SEND facilities? Join in the conversation HERE or in the comments below.
