SEN inquiry delivers new rights and more information for parents

NDCS has helped secure a campaign victory for parents of deaf children, after recommendations by the Lamb inquiry into special educational needs were accepted by the Government.

The Lamb inquiry into parental confidence in the special educational needs system has published two interim reports: on Ofsted inspections; and the quality of statements of need for children with special educational needs. Its recommendations include:

• A new specific duty on Ofsted to report on the quality of provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
• All inspectors to receive training on SEN and disability.
• Parents to have a new right of appeal where a statement of special educational needs is not amended following an annual or interim review. This reflects concerns that statements are rarely updated once made.
• New guidance for local authorities on preparing statements.

NDCS submitted evidence to the inquiry which is referenced several times in both reports. This evidence highlighted the views of parents of deaf children, as expressed to NDCS Family Officers and Legal Caseworkers.

The inquiry follows NDCS's Must do better! campaign report from summer 2008 in which NDCS warned that "if inspections of provision for deaf children are not conducted with the necessary rigour, underpinned by good awareness and expertise in deafness, Ofsted cannot play an effective role in driving up standards for deaf children." The report also highlighted views from parents of having to 'fight' the system.

NDCS has also raised the issue of Ofsted inspectors lacking awareness of the needs of deaf children in several debates and questions in Parliament this year.

The Lamb inquiry will publish its final report this autumn.

More information:

The Lamb Inquiry (external website)
NDCS submission to Lamb Inquiry (161 kb)

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