10 signatures reached
To: Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education
Give Neurodivergent children access to Education
I want the Government to abide by its own law, by honouring section 19 of the Education Act, 1996. This section mandates Local Authorities to provide Educational provision if a child is unable to attend school.
I am adding an edit to the previous statement: It must be noted that the requirements often refers a child to a PRU - A "Pupil Referral Unit". I would argue that these institutions are almost a throwback to Victorian views on "unusual" behaviour and alternative options must be available and provided for.
I am adding an edit to the previous statement: It must be noted that the requirements often refers a child to a PRU - A "Pupil Referral Unit". I would argue that these institutions are almost a throwback to Victorian views on "unusual" behaviour and alternative options must be available and provided for.
Why is this important?
My name is Peter, and I'm an AuDHD adult with Dyspraxia. During my youth, I was failed by the education system in nearly every conceivable way, and as such developed what is now referred to as "Emotionally Based School Avoidance". Unlike a lot of parents now pursued by authorities with threats of fines and social services involvement, I was left, alone, unable to attend school, in a near constant state of overwhelm and burnout.
My family were never informed about Section 19 of the Education Act 1996. This law mandates the provision of education by the Local Authority if a child is unable to attend school. It never came up. Not from the schools I attended, mental health professionals, nor any other source. As such, I was left without direction, and never able to achieve my full potential.
By neither funding nor obligating Local Authorities to follow the law, successive governments have thereby broken the law. Section 19 could have been a lifeline for me, and tens of thousands, if not more, neurodivergent children failed by the Education system since 1996.
This issue is increasingly important for parents of children receiving or awaiting SEND provisions, as many Neurodivergent children, and children with learning differences burn out and face the consequences of Complex-PTSD as a result of their needs not being met, and facing sensory, social, emotional and information overload in a school environment.
I see the stories about children and parents either struggling to acquire, or receiving insufficient SEND provisions, and children and parents being blamed when a child is so emotionally overwhelmed they cannot attend school. Threats of fines, and social services involvement and worse pursue them. By making the government honour Section 19 of the Education Act 1996, I hope to see to it that no neurodivergent or learning different child suffers the same as I did in my youth.
I am in the process of starting a petition on the gov.uk website to bring Local Authorities and the Government to account.
My family were never informed about Section 19 of the Education Act 1996. This law mandates the provision of education by the Local Authority if a child is unable to attend school. It never came up. Not from the schools I attended, mental health professionals, nor any other source. As such, I was left without direction, and never able to achieve my full potential.
By neither funding nor obligating Local Authorities to follow the law, successive governments have thereby broken the law. Section 19 could have been a lifeline for me, and tens of thousands, if not more, neurodivergent children failed by the Education system since 1996.
This issue is increasingly important for parents of children receiving or awaiting SEND provisions, as many Neurodivergent children, and children with learning differences burn out and face the consequences of Complex-PTSD as a result of their needs not being met, and facing sensory, social, emotional and information overload in a school environment.
I see the stories about children and parents either struggling to acquire, or receiving insufficient SEND provisions, and children and parents being blamed when a child is so emotionally overwhelmed they cannot attend school. Threats of fines, and social services involvement and worse pursue them. By making the government honour Section 19 of the Education Act 1996, I hope to see to it that no neurodivergent or learning different child suffers the same as I did in my youth.
I am in the process of starting a petition on the gov.uk website to bring Local Authorities and the Government to account.
