Disabled Children: A new priority

11 December 2007

EDCM welcomes focus on SEN and disability in Children’s Plan

Disabled children and children with special educational needs (SEN) were recognised today as a new priority within the government’s Children’s Plan.

Steve Broach, EDCM Campaign Manager, comments:
‘The government’s vision for children and young people has specific sections on SEN and disability, but crucially, disabled children also run as a key group right through the Plan. The fact that a high-level, mainstream government policy document has made disabled children a priority shows that things really are changing within the new Department for Children, Schools and Families’.

The Children’s Plan confirms the announcement made by Secretary of State Ed Balls MP at the End Child Poverty event yesterday (Monday 10th December) that an additional £90 million will be invested in capital funding to improve the provision of short breaks. This adds to £340 million previously allocated from revenue funding in Aiming High for Disabled Children this May. The Plan also confirms the increased funding, said by Ed Balls MP on Monday to be £8.4 million, that will allow the Family Fund to make an additional 16,200 grants to disabled young people aged 16 and 17.

Children with special educational needs, which includes most disabled children, will benefit from £18 million new investment over the next three years, designed to improve training and data collection and reduce bullying and exclusions. Ofsted will conduct a review of SEN provision in 2009.

Steve Broach continues:
‘It is vital that the Aiming High for Disabled Children reforms are reinforced by a renewed commitment to disabled children in schools. Disabled children stand to benefit greatly from the new focus in the Plan on holistic support from schools for children and families, including co-location of services. We will be looking to schools and Local Authorities to respond, so that the Ofsted review in 2009 finds genuine improvement in outcomes for children with SEN and disabled children.’