Parents of children with special educational needs across South Yorkshire share views in school reopening row

A handful of parents in South Yorkshire who have children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have voiced their opinions in the school reopening row.
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Members from the campaign group, Sheffield Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), made a Facebook appeal earlier this month to understand how parents across the region are feeling ahead of the planned reopening of schools on Monday, June 1.

The Sheffield and district branch of the National Education Union (NEU), along with other teaching unions across the country, have raised concerns over the plans – urging councils to resist allowing schools to open more widely until effective social distancing measures can be put in place to protect pupils and staff.

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This is when secondary schools are due to begin reopening, and which pupils will...
Under government guidance, schoolchildren in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 - as well as more children in special schools - will go back from June 1. Photo: PA/Barry BatchelorUnder government guidance, schoolchildren in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 - as well as more children in special schools - will go back from June 1. Photo: PA/Barry Batchelor
Under government guidance, schoolchildren in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 - as well as more children in special schools - will go back from June 1. Photo: PA/Barry Batchelor
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The Sheffield DPAC campaign group said that there is an ‘overwhelming number’ of parents who fully support what the unions are saying, and many have views on what will best suit the needs of their children.

“When it comes to a child or young person's health and wellbeing, the buck stops with their parents and carers,” they said. “Now more than ever their actions and choices over the next few weeks could have a direct impact on the health of their children. We, DPAC Sheffield, believe that they deserve to be listened to.”

Primary schools have been instructed to prepare to bring back Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 classes, as well as their nursery provision, from next month.

Under government guidance, all children in those year groups with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) in place – something which describes a child or young person's special educational needs and the additional support they need – should also return to school.

Some South Yorkshire parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have said they won't be sending their kids back to school on June 1. Photo: David Davies/PA WireSome South Yorkshire parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have said they won't be sending their kids back to school on June 1. Photo: David Davies/PA Wire
Some South Yorkshire parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have said they won't be sending their kids back to school on June 1. Photo: David Davies/PA Wire
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Special schools should also work towards a phased return of more children “without a focus on specific year groups and informed by risk assessments”, according to the government.

With that in mind, Sheffield DPAC asked parents within its group whether they will be sending their children back to school next week.

Parent-carer Sobia Akthar has an 8-year-old with SEN who has a 'my plan' in place and attends a mainstream school.

She said is “too risky and dangerous” for children and staff to go back to school as people are still dying from Covid-19.

The council recently held a consultation on special educational needs and disabilities after an inspection last November found seven areas of significant weakness. Parents and support groups have also highlighted a number of problems. The council is now working on a strategy which will improve services for SEND children over the next five years.The council recently held a consultation on special educational needs and disabilities after an inspection last November found seven areas of significant weakness. Parents and support groups have also highlighted a number of problems. The council is now working on a strategy which will improve services for SEND children over the next five years.
The council recently held a consultation on special educational needs and disabilities after an inspection last November found seven areas of significant weakness. Parents and support groups have also highlighted a number of problems. The council is now working on a strategy which will improve services for SEND children over the next five years.
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"My son has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), clinical anxiety and other complex needs, and is a school refuser,” she added.

“I'm very scared of my child getting the virus, for the effect on him but also of it passing it to me, my partner or his or sibling, who is asthmatic. My partner has COPD and I have high blood pressure. I will not be sending my son to school at this moment in time, and not until I've seen evidence of a considerable drop in death rates.

“My son suffers from high anxiety and the last couple of months have not been very nice for him. I can't coax him to take a short walk as he thinks we will get the virus and die, even though we are doing our best to reassure him.

“Sending him to school now would be incredibly traumatic for him. It's not an option. Our safety and the safety of others comes first."

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Jennifer Jones is a parent-carer to an 8-year-old who has an EHCP and attends a special school.

She said: "My son has global sensory processing disorder and is autistic. He has the emotional age of a two-year-old.

“He might well be able to repeat social distancing rules parrot-fashion, but it only takes one small piece of upset to tip his apple cart, resulting in anything ranging from running off, self harming, or a meltdown of volcanic proportions.

“During violent meltdowns, my son sadly does sometimes need to be held for his own safety and the safety of our children and staff. Based on that alone you'd wonder why I'm being pressured to send him into school? Apparently this is happening on the basis of him having an EHCP.”

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Ms Jones said she won’t be sending her son back to school “this side of September at least”, adding that the government have been “ignorant” towards SEN children in their recent statements on schools.

“Let me tell you just a few of the things that a school must legally provide for my son according to his EHCP,” she said. “His EHCP states that he "needs regular hugs and squeezes in order to help him regulate his emotions and to feel grounded.

“It also says he ‘enjoys the sensation of being held and rocked gently, drinking from a sippy cup, or holding something soft and fluffy. Doing these things regularly throughout the day will benefit him’.

“Tell me precisely how sending him into a school where no one can touch him, and where he can't even cuddle a teddy bear is good for him in any way?

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“There's no way on this earth that he's capable of observing social distancing measures, let alone of coping without the basic care requirements that I've fought so hard for him to access."

Sheffield DPAC added: “No parents replied to our appeal for contributions stating that they were happy to send their children to school on June 1.

“So many of our precious vulnerable disabled children not only wouldn't cope, some of them wouldn't understand, and others would not have their needs supported as stated on their EHCPs.”

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