SEND: ISC CEO calls for clarity on proposals for reform
Julie Robinson, CEO of the ISC, has responded to the government's proposed changes to the SEND system, calling on ministers to provide clarity for those families relying on specialist care and support for their children.
As part of their proposals, ministers have said that funding is to be diverted away from independent special needs schools, in a move aimed at making mainstream schools more "inclusive" and curbing spending on SEND.
Commenting on the plans, Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, said: "Tens of thousands of young people with SEND depend on independent special schools to meet their needs and provide the best possible education and care. From small charity-run schools at the heart of their communities, to large specialist providers working with young people with complex disabilities and medical conditions, the expertise required in so many cases of individualised care inevitably carries a cost.
"Despite strong rhetoric about independent special schools in the media, the government’s proposals lack essential detail. It is imperative that the government provides clarity about these changes for families who rely on specialist care and support for their children."