Chris uncovers potential epidemic of avoidable SEND child suicide
I have been uncovering the agony and horror of the SEND scandal with The Times.
Families across the country have shared 1253 accounts exposing unlawful, harmful, or unethical behaviour by 134 local authorities.
Every major political party is represented among them — this is not about party politics, but about a system that is broken. Local accountability is being bypassed, and in places like Surrey, the truth has been buried. For over a year, the council concealed that it had the highest tribunal complaint rate in the country.
While councils face huge financial pressures around SEND, too often that pressure has translated into a culture of lying and treating children’s suffering as just another “problem to manage.” The result is a system that has become dishonest and brutalised.
If we reduce their SEND rights and throw our children to local authorities we cannot trust, we throw away their lives.
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I have been uncovering the agony and horror of the SEND scandal with The Times.
Families across the country have shared 1253 accounts exposing unlawful, harmful, or unethical behaviour by 134 local authorities.
They told me they are aware of the issue and are working with the government to see what can be done.
SCC have allegedly carried out illegal and negligent needs assessments to implement cuts to care hours for adults with learning disabilities without justification. This is part of changes to how they contract adult social care, known as the DPS
Lenka relies on strangers to help her carry her buggy to the platform because there is no step free access.
I met with the Managing Director of South Western Railway.