Lack of SEND support leaving families suicidal - MP

The government has demanded that Derbyshire County Council "urgently" improves its provision for children with special educational needs, after a Derbyshire MP said families were being driven to "breaking point".

It follows a recent Ofsted report which found "widespread and systemic failings" in Derbyshire's SEND provision.

Several of the county's MPs took part in an emotional Parliamentary debate on the issue this week, raising the cases of constituents who felt they had been let down by local services.

Ofsted recently agreed an improvement plan with the Conservative-run council and the Integrated Care Board, which also has responsibilities for SEND services in the region.

Linsey Farnsworth, Labour MP for Amber Valley, told the BBC she hosted a recent public meeting on the issue where she met families who had been driven to mental crisis by the lack of support.

"There were a number of parents telling me they had been driven to the point of despair where they thought about taking their own life," she said.

"What was also incredibly heartbreaking was that they were telling me their children as young as 12 had told them that they wanted to die because they weren't able to live their life in the way they should with the support they deserve to have.

"In Derbyshire we have inherited a crisis...I don't think you can just blame the national picture."

She is calling for the county council to act urgently on the recent improvement plan agreed between SEND partnership authorities in Derbyshire and Ofsted.

During the Commons debate, the South Derbyshire MP Samantha Niblett raised the case of her constituents Theresa and Nathan, whose autistic daughter has cerebral palsy and ADHD.

"Transitioning into mainstream secondary school severely affected her mental health, leading to self-harm and suicidal thoughts," she said.

"Delays in her EHCP [Education Health and Care plan] process meant that she lost a place at a suitable special setting.

"At 14-years-old, 14, she is on antidepressants and has remained out of education since January 2024. That's over a year."

An EHCP is a legal document outlining a child's needs and enabling them access to support.

Responding during the debate, Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell said the cases were "heartbreaking".

"[Derbyshire] must address these concerns urgently. Progress is being monitored," she said.

She told the Commons the Department of Education had appointed a SEND advisor to "challenge and support" Derbyshire County Council and the Integrated Care Board to improve.

Councillor Alex Dale, cabinet member for education at Derbyshire County Council, told the BBC he hoped families would see an improvement in the service in the next 12 months.

"We absolutely have been very honest and open for the past couple of years about the real challenges the service faces in light of significant increases in demand," he said.

"As a partnership we have established a SEND improvement and assurance board.

"We're meeting monthly to track progress against all of the areas for priority action."

Timeliness, identifying and assessing needs, insuring there are sufficient school places and communication with families are all key areas that make up the improvement plan.

Ofsted will assess Derbyshire again in about 18 months.

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