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Funding, policy and training gaps 'leaving SEND children at risk of exploitation'

2 mins read Social Care Youth Justice
A lack of funding, relevant training, and up to date guidance from government are leaving children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) at risk of criminal and sexual abuse, a study has found.
Researchers are calling for multi-agency guidance to be updated. Picture: Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock
Researchers are calling for multi-agency guidance to be updated. Picture: Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock

It warns “there is little recognition in policy and guidance of increased vulnerability and risk of being coerced and exploited” among this group of children.

The research involved the views of parents, social workers, police and youth justice workers as well as children’s mental health professionals. Researchers also analysed relevant law, policy and guidance to identify gaps in knowledge around SEND and the risk of exploitation.

Anecdotal evidence from those spoken to suggests “a high proportion” of the 7,432 potentially exploited young people in 2023 were children with a SEND.

Often this abuse “amounts to modern slavery”, they warn, adding that  “despite parents’ desperate efforts to get support when exploitation is discovered” families receive little support".

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