‘We were struggling’: Govt criticised over ‘lack of support’ for children with special needs
The government is being urged to bring forward its review into support for children with special educational needs and disabilities after claims that a lack of guidance to specialist schools has left disabled children behind.
The disability charity Sense says thousands of children have been affected after schools were forced to implement their own risk assessments without a blueprint from the government, resulting in inconsistencies across the country.
Sarah White, head of policy at Sense, said: “What we found is those risk assessments have been used quite differently and many settings risk assess children to be safer at home rather than at school. Those processes didn’t involve children or their families.
“For many children with complex disabilities, school isn’t just about education. It’s also where they access additional support therapies, where they get visits from speech and language therapy, they might receive physiotherapy and other treatments. So stopping them going to school was a barrier to them receiving the additional care and support that they would normally receive during the school day.”
Max’s parents have said his epilepsy has got worse since he has been at home
Sophia and Lee Tattersall say they had no say in the decision of their son Max’s school to send him home.
“For the first four weeks we didn’t hear anything and after six weeks we were really struggling,” Mrs Tattersall explains.
“His behaviour got really bad and he started attacking me. His epilepsy got worse.”
Weeks later, Mr Tattersall had a heart attack – an incident he says was compounded by the stress of not getting any help in trying to get Max back into school.
“You don’t get a rest, there’s no break, no time to relax or step back, enjoy yourself or free yourself. It’s 24/7,” Mr Tattersall said.
“He’s our son but he’s still like a full-time job.”
Sophia and Lee Tattersall say they have been struggling
The Department for Education says it asked schools to support vulnerable pupils, including those with education, health and care plans, to attend where possible.
A spokesperson said: “Our guidance to schools made clear that they should ensure pupils with special educational needs and disabilities were able to access remote education alongside their peers, and we asked schools to work collaboratively with their families, putting in reasonable adjustments where necessary.”
Paul Silvester said he could have done with more support from the government
Paul Silvester, headteacher at Newman School in Rotherham, says he chose to include parents and guardians in the process, but could have done with more support from the government.
“The problem was it was a generic statement saying everybody with an EHCP should come into school. How we were open was left to us. I would’ve liked more guidance from the government on that,” he told Sky News.
“Perhaps on the rota basis – whether every child should be in every day, guidance in relation to the transport needs of young people coming to schools, guidance in terms of family support – identifying the families which might need more support from school, and perhaps a little more nuance in terms of equipment and ways to make sure our children and staff were protected.
“I don’t think I’ve seen very much guidance to schools and particularly to special schools on what to do.
“The guidance we got was from our local authority.”
There’s been a huge increase in animal neglect and abandonment in England and Wales and the RSPCA’s rescue centres are “absolutely full”, according to the charity.
New figures show there were 38,977 incidents of neglect reported to the RSPCA’s emergency cruelty line between January and September 2023.
But for the same period in 2024, there were 48,814 – a 25% increase.
The number of animals dumped in winter has also doubled.
“Our centres up and down the country are absolutely full, and we’re also taking animals into private boarding,” said RSPCA spokesperson Suzanne Norbury.
“So when our teams are out there, they rescue animals and we haven’t got space.
“We’re spending money on private boarding facilities at the moment on top of running centres like this one. It’s costing us £26,000 each and every week.”
It means the charity is trying to absorb extra costs of £1,352,000 a year for emergency boarding.
RSPCA spokesperson Suzanne Norbury said centres are full
At their rescue centre at Frankley near Birmingham, Damon is one of many cats looking for a new home.
He was a stray found on a building site with a broken jaw and has had to have it wired back together at the animal hospital here.
Damon had his jaw wired back together
‘The first thing they cut back on is their animals’
Ian Briggs, a chief inspector for the charity, said: “He must have been in considerable pain, and it was only due to a member of the public letting us know that we were able to intervene and give him the treatment he needed.”
“During COVID, people sought to own pets because they were looking to have companionship.
“Then after lockdown was released and everyone got back to normal, we were then hit by the cost of living crisis. Then year on year we’re seeing finances stretched for everybody, so we believe we’ve got all these extra people who have pets and now some are feeling the financial strain.”
He added: “Because of the Christmas period, we’re in the middle of winter, heating goes up, electricity costs even more, that adds an additional financial burden to people who are already struggling, and often the first thing they cut back on is their animals.”
Damon the cat
Animals found in appalling conditions
Last year, the charity rescued 34 animals from a house in Walsall, including 24 dogs, who’d been kept in appalling conditions.
They were found surrounded by hundreds of empty dog food cans, and faeces.
Following an RSPCA prosecution, two people were disqualified from keeping all animals for life.
They also received suspended 20-week custodial sentences after pleading guilty to offences including failing to provide the animals with veterinary care, a suitable living environment or taking reasonable steps to protect them from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The animals were rehabilitated at various RSPCA rehoming centres, including the centre at Frankley.
One, a Staffordshire bull terrier cross, was rehomed in the summer.
Sarah Potter with her new cats
‘We needed to give two homeless cats a home’
Cats Peter and Paul are the lucky ones being picked up to be taken to a new home while Sky News was filming at the centre.
Sarah and Martin Potter are taking them back to Worcestershire.
“We recently lost a cat,” said Sarah, “and the house is just completely empty”.
“We’ve just got so much love to give, that we needed to give two homeless cats a home ready for Christmas”.
It can, though, take years for other animals to be re-homed and there are now more than ever needing a new start.
UK
King praises response to ‘lawless’ UK riots in Christmas message – as he gives ‘personal’ thanks to medics
The King has praised the community response to the “anger and lawlessness” of this summer’s riots in towns and cities around the UK in his annual Christmas message.
Charles, 76, also used the message, filmed by Sky News at the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in central London, to thank doctors and nurses who cared for him and his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales through their cancer treatment this year.
Drawing on the Nativity story’s theme of listening to others, the King said: “Through listening, we learn to respect our differences, to defeat prejudice, and to open up new possibilities.
“I felt a deep sense of pride here in the United Kingdom when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviours, but to repair.
“To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend church at Sandringham on Christmas morning. Pic: PA
Read more:
Sky News behind the scenes of King’s message
King jokes he’s ‘still alive’
Almost 1,000 people were arrested during the summer riots, which came in response to misinformation around the deadly stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport in July.
The King visited the Merseyside town after the killings and the ensuing disorder, during which rioters attacked hotels housing migrants.
His final public engagement of the year was in Walthamstow, east London, where thousands gathered in a counter-protest to condemn the rioting this summer.
The King’s Christmas message spoke of the need to support one another, as “all of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life – be it mental or physical”.
“The degree to which we help one another – and draw support from each other, be we people of faith or of none – is a measure of our civilisation as nations,” he said.
He added that “those who dedicate their lives to helping others… continually impress me” and he is “thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others – often at some cost to themselves”.
The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children Louis, Charlotte and George on Christmas Day. Pic: PA
Reflecting on his cancer treatment, which will continue into next year, he gave his “special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed”.
He also thanked members of the public for their well-wishes after he and the Princess of Wales, 42, returned to public duties in April and September respectively – following courses of cancer treatment.
They and other members of the Royal Family attended church near the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Christmas morning.
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How Sky News filmed the King’s message
Thoughts with people in ‘Middle East, central Europe and Africa’
The King began his message by recalling his visit to 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations with the Queen in June.
He described meeting “remarkable veterans” and noted that “during previous commemorations we were able to console ourselves with the thought that these tragic events seldom happen in the modern era”.
But he said: “On this Christmas Day, we cannot help but think of those for whom the devastating effects of conflict – in the Middle East, in central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere – pose a daily threat to so many people’s lives and livelihoods.”
He thanked humanitarian organisations working in conflict zones and referenced the gospels’ references to conflict and the “values with which we can overcome” them.
Signing off, he wished “you and all those you love a most joyful and peaceful Christmas”.
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