SEN parents fight for basic support

A Department for Children, Schools and Families study, which involved interviews with parents, found the SEN system was confusing and intimidating for families.

The report, Parental Confidence in the Special Educational Needs Assessment, Statementing and Tribunal System Qualitative Study, found that parents were given little information about the support that is available.

Forms to get their children assessed were described as huge and confusing.

Other criticisms made by parents were the "perceived brevity" in the way educational psychologists spoke with their children during the assessment process.

Parents also thought that council SEN officers appeared to lack empathy.

The report, which will be fed into the Lamb Inquiry into SEN, which reports later this year, calls for schools and councils to improve the way they communicate with parents during the SEN process.

Councils are urged to bring in voluntary groups to support parents with SEN issues and set up parents' forums.

Lorraine Petersen, chief executive of the National Association for Special Educational Needs, said: "This shows that councils and schools need to work much harder at building relationships with all parents."

Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society, added: "Many parents of young people with autism have to fight what seem like huge battles to get the education support that should be theirs by right."