Improving parental confidence in the special educational needs system

NDCS has submitted evidence to the Lamb Inquiry into parental confidence of provision for children with special educational needs. This is looking at a range of issues, including the statementing process whereby children are assessed to decide what support they need at school.

The submission:

• Summarises the experiences of parents of deaf children during the statementing process, as reported to NDCS's Family Officers and Legal Caseworkers.
• Put forward a proposal that Ofsted should regularly review the way that local authorities handle requests for a statement. 
• Sets out concerns that Ofsted inspections of provision for deaf children needs to improve.  

NDCS's Must do better! campaign report set out the concerns that many parents of deaf children have about provision for the deaf children, and their feelings of 'battling' their local authority.

The Lamb Inquiry is expected to publish a final report in September 2009.

What do you think?

Does our submission reflect your own experiences of the statementing process? Do you have any other thoughts on how parental confidence can be improved? If so, get in touch by email or leave a message at the bottom of this page.

More information:

NDCS submission to Lamb Inquiry (161 kb)

Lamb Inquiry (external website)

NDCS Must do better!, campaign report on barriers to achievement by deaf children (1842 kb)