For society to develop in a positive way, and for there to be true equality for all by choices.

Derby City Council are planning a £220,000 cut in its specialist teaching service, which will almost exclusively affect its support for autistic children. At a time when autistic children are finding support difficult to come by, this is a massive blow to their education and their families, who are left to pick up the pieces. This cut represents a 25% loss in capacity, and must be stopped. We know that autistic children are three times more likely to be excluded than children without special needs. We know that school can be overwhelming and teaching staff often rely on training so that autistic pupils can flourish in their classrooms. The Government recognises that more needs to be done to support autistic children, in the classroom and out, and is including children and young people in their national autism strategy, released in November 2019. Instead of listening with open ears to what needs to change, Derby City Council are instead cutting jobs. Show Derby City Council that they must not make these cuts, and they must act to ensure they create an education system that works for autistic children and families.

Some of the main concerns are: - The current situation caused by the build up of excessive traffic in the area dropping off and picking up from four schools already leads to minute-by-minute infringements of the parking regulations and inconsiderate / illegal / dangerous driving manoeuvres. - The traffic in the roads near St Augustine’s school is often at a standstill at peak times twice per day, and the plan proposes to double the amount of traffic. - The neighbourhood already faces the danger of a serious accident caused by this traffic. - Many houses are already at risk of being inaccessible by Ambulance, Fire Services, or Police during peak times. - Residents feel trapped inside their homes twice a day, especially at pickup time when thoughtless driving and parking is combined with abusive parents. - The proposed plan will double the number of cars visiting the school during each 'school run'. We believe that nearly 70% of parents at St Augustine’s live outside the area and travel by car this will increase the traffic from just this one school by at least 150 cars twice a day. - This volume of traffic and emissions has serious health implications for all the children at the four schools as well as the residents living nearby. - Despite the scientific evidence supporting the dangers of air pollution, some parents sit with their engine’s running whatever time of year. - The plan is intended to support children moving into semi-rural (relatively light traffic) areas of the borough by attracting them into the centre of town. This cannot be sustainable. Surely it is better to build another small school where the need is rather than bring people from miles around. - The three main roads leading from the schools campus - Widney Lane, Monkspath Hall Road, and Blossomfield Road each can have queues up to 10 minutes during the 'school run'. - An additional annual 120,000+ of car mileage and the noxious emissions resulting is likely to be incurred in transporting children to and from school as compared to a school based in Tidbury Green or Blythe Valley. - The acceptance of an initial increase of 210 children is likely to have a further knock-on effect when those children need to moving to the 'next-door' school - St. Peter's.

As parents we are worried by reporting in the media of children’s mental health problems, obesity, screen time use and them having fewer opportunities to socialise. Whilst schools teach children academic subjects they are also required to promote opportunities for children to make friends and be inclusive. This is evidenced in many Education Health Care plans. Many schools are curtailing or removing playtimes as a punishment. Not only is this affecting children’s opportunities to socialise but it also deprives them of time to rejuvenate and compose themselves. Schools promote children’s health by issuing guidelines on healthy lunch boxes, internet safety and inviting parents to attend workshops on subjects such as anxiety, mental health and Adolescent Brain Development, yet at the same time deny children fresh air and exercise. This seems counterintuitive. The report highlights that play times have decreased on average by 45 minutes per week over the past 20 years and the majority of schools no longer have afternoon breaks. Children in urban areas are more affected, and those who have free school meals. Another group of children who may be particularly disadvantaged are those with disabilities. Amongst them, children with ADHD and autism need play time to use up excess energy and socialise. There are many families who may not be able to access costly after school clubs, who may not have safe areas for their children to play outside and therefore have limited social opportunities for children outside of school. School maybe the only place these children can socialise. Most importantly the report shows that children valued break times. Secondary school pupils felt that in particular lunchtime was too short. This finding reflects our personal experience from having children in secondary schools where sometimes they don’t have enough time to eat what they have bought in the canteen. We are aware of the problem of academic pressure on schools, the reported funding crisis and possible staffing issues that may be argued over providing legal play times, however this needs to be weighed up against the potentially enormous health benefits to children and whether these children would be more healthy and better able to attend to academic study. Teachers are increasingly finding themselves dealing with issues that can be attributed to children’s mental health and behaviour that may be linked to this. Teacher unions have successfully implemented legal break times for their members but no one has done this for the children. To that end we are asking that children from infant, primary and secondary schools receive one hour minimum for lunch and at least a morning and afternoon break time of 15 minutes, in total 90 minutes break time each day. Children’s play time needs to be set in legislation, not determined by individual schools and certainly not removed as punishments. Every child matters, help children achieve more.

For over 17 years Oasis Nursery has been an important feature of Melton. As one of the best performing nurseries in the local area, Ofsted rated it as ‘Outstanding’ in 2015. However, this outstanding Nursery is facing closure due to funding issues. According to the Board of Trustees, there isn’t enough demand to keep the nursery open. If enough of us sign this petition we can demonstrate to the Board that this Nursery is in demand and force them to reconsider closing it. Keeping this Nursery open will provide current children with the stability they deserve. I started this petition because I personally know how important this nursery has been to families in Melton and the surrounding areas. Three of my children went to Oasis, as well as my nieces and nephews. They all received the very best support from this Nursery.

Children who attend these schools lose a days education every time we have an election. 2 elections in may 2019 in the short 4 week half term. This not only means the children miss out on two days education but also means that working parents are pushed to find alternative childcare when they are at work. This could be easily avoided if the elections were planned during the school holidays or another alternative venue was used for the polling.

James Peacock School in Ruddington is proposing to make a significant number of its most experienced and highly-qualified teaching assistants redundant. The head teacher claims that cuts are needed to save money but there are other ways to solve the problem. Nevertheless, the School’s governors are being asked to approve damaging plans to target teaching assistants. Making teaching assistants redundant will cause long-lasting harm to children, to the school and to the Ruddington community. Those whose jobs are at risk have firm roots in the village and are well-known to children and parents having worked in the school for many years. Teaching assistants provide vital support, supporting teachers in managing class behaviour as well as ensuring children with special needs receive additional care and attention. Reducing the number of teaching assistants would deprive children of support and restrict teachers' ability to teach effectively. Not only are there other ways of balancing the School’s books, but it is likely that schools funding will increase over the next year. The government schools minister for England, Nick Gibb, has said that school funding will be a priority for the autumn spending review. Now is not the time to get rid of teaching assistants who are indispensable for the children and teachers of James Peacock.

I study at the CLS college on Freeman st. Soon to be shut down in 3 months which is dramatically upsetting. So many pupils attend and they are very happy. Most people cannot attend a bigger setting. Unfortunately for some they cannot travel far or they can’t be in a bigger place. Helping in any way Would mean a lot for so many people and myself by fighting to keep it open. This place is a place that I actually can have my study as for many issues before hand. I can speak for many other students too. The college is so welcoming and very nice teachers and staff. There is plenty of students that everyone gets along with. We are a little community and would like as much help as we could possibly get. **In order to help, anyone that could contact this lady called Janet Goodwin. She can help fight, to keep it open. Her email is: [email protected] and her phone: Telephone: 07927494208.** No one should have too move to a different college because of the place shutting down. People are upset and would love it to stay open and to continue to work from there. Would be much appreciated if we can keep this place open and help give many students a place to learn and feel comfortable and get there qualifications they deserve. No one should have to loose there education because of something like this. Much help is appreciated. Students here are very keen to work and to build their futures. Moving to a different college will disturb to where they left off. This can lead them doing more time of college when it isn’t needed. Students have achieved so much and will continue doing so. Students feel safe and happy in the working environment, this is another reason why we are keen to keep this place open. We want to welcome more people and continue to keep this college open. Thank you very much for reading. Let’s keep this place open.

Lewes District Council have yet again taken the decision to use Cradle Hill CP School as a polling station and therefore the school will be closed, not just on the 2nd May but also on the 23rd May, equating to 13 hours of missed education, in a term that already has two bank holidays. Our children’s education is extremely important. Something that East Sussex County Council like to remind us with their Get a Grip Campaign and the fines they impose on parents and carers for taking their children out of school. 13 hours of “forced” missed education in one year is not acceptable, the knock-on effect is huge, especially with SATs coming up, children with special needs loosing precious time, those who rely on school dinners each day as their only hot meal and the extra financial burden to parents and carers. There are plenty of community buildings in the ward that could be utilised for this purpose ie Seaford Community Church and Seaford Children’s Centre. Let’s get this decision over ruled.

It is a fantastic way of communicating between school and home, the kids love it parents love it and it is safe secure way of keeping parents in the loop with what's going on, and fact that videos and pictures can be exchanged over class dojo and out with social media is a massive bonus

Stoborough Nursery has served the community of Stoborough and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. However, recently there has been tension between the Nursery and School regarding the rent of the land and buildings. We understand the need to increase the Nursery’s rent, but the proposed amount of £1750 a term (a 400% increase), coming into effect this September, is not reasonable or fair. This sum does not accurately reflect the Nursery’s use of the building and land, or take into account the financial investment the Nursery has made in improving and maintaining the Nursery building and garden over the last 30 years. The Nursery is a not-for-profit charity and paying this unreasonable sum would not be sustainable. The Nursery would have no option other than to shut its doors to the numerous families currently using its services, unfairly disrupting these children’s education.

This affects us all – if a child with additional needs or disabilities is unsupported in a classroom, it can put unreasonable demands on teachers' time, compromising the learning of all children. The numbers of children in Waltham Forest being REFUSED an assessment for an Education, Care and Health Plan (EHCP), which would provide them with ESSENTIAL EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, has increased 3800%* in the period between 2015 and 2017. Waltham Forest reject more applications for Education Health and Care Plans than any other borough in London (except Southwark). This means hundreds of our children who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are being left to struggle alone at school, often with DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES for the child and their whole family. We believe this practice is being carried out covertly to save the borough money in a time of austerity. Even those children "lucky" enough to get an EHCP, less than half (47%) got that delivered in the time period required by law. This delay means our children are being left for extended periods without the support that is vital for them to thrive and succeed in school. This can often lead to school refusal, suspensions and have a detrimental impact on both the child’s education and their mental health. In a time of austerity and education budget cuts, children with additional needs are often the ones who suffer the most. Taking away support that allows them to access an education is denying them their basic legal and human rights. Families of children with additional educational needs and disabilities in Waltham Forest are also routinely ignored by services, such as officials at the Disability Enablement Service. We often find it excessively difficult to get appointments with professionals, such as speech therapists, occupational therapists and paediatricians. Local community child mental health services are still telling parents to come back when their child is self harming or suicidal. Our families are still experiencing practices that were exposed by BBC Panorama last year. Families are made even more fearful for their children’s future by the fact Waltham Forest has a forecasted shortfall of £3.8 million by 31 March 2020 in their high needs education pot. The Education Health and Care Plan processes in Waltham Forest are unclear and inconsistent. They include practices we believe are unlawful under the Children and Families Act 2014. This includes refusing to assess children when there is an indication of need, refusing to name schools on some EHCPs, and the still common belief that schools have to spend £6000 before they can apply for a Plan. It feels like Waltham Forest Council has gone to war with SEND families, making our children a scapegoat for tightening budgets. In Richmond-Upon-Thames, local councillors have launched a campaign to fight back against the cuts. They are working WITH parents, and indeed the whole community, to fight austerity. They have launched petitions, letter writing campaigns and pulled together a coalition of local MPs to raise questions in Parliament. Waltham Forest have remained silent. Our Council's solution to the cuts is to refuse to grant support to our most vulnerable children. Many of us are being forced through distressing court battles with the Council. Although between 80-95% of parents win these cases, it comes with huge emotional fallout for our families, and unnecessary cost to the taxpayer. Many more will not be able to face the stress of going to court, or simply do not have the resources to do so. These children are the ones who are lost to the system completely. Tell Waltham Forest Council to stop fighting us. Call on them to: 1. Hold a scrutiny committee on the policies regarding Education Health and Care Plans to ensure they are fair, equitable and lawful. 2. Significantly improve the numbers of Education Health and Care Plans which are issued within the 20 week deadline 3. Stop refusing vital support for children with a clear need and improve access to vital services 4. Launch a SEND Funding Crisis campaign, which will help the Council access the funds that are so desperately needed to support our children The SEND crisis effects everyone. If your child is in a classroom with an unsupported SEND child, their education is also compromised because the teacher's time is stretched too thinly. Even if you aren't a parent, but a taxpayer, your money is being wasted in costly and unnecessary court cases that the Council mostly loses. It doesn't have to be like this. Instead of blocking vital support and fighting with parents, Waltham Forest Council could join with us to highlight the catastrophic impacts of education cuts and find ways to tackle special educational needs budget deficits. They could emulate councillors in other boroughs who are showing what is possible. We must work together to ensure that the most vulnerable children in Waltham Forest get access to the support they need. * Figures are based on stats from the Department of Education between 2015 - 2017. At time of writing 2018 figures had not been released