Reaction to the new green paper on Special Educational Needs

Liberal Democrat Children and Families Minister, Sarah Teather, today published a Green Paper on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities which proposes a new single assessment process to join up health, social care and education services.

Commenting on the announcement, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Education, Young People and Families in the Commons, Dan Rogerson, said "Many parents with children who need a little extra help to flourish feel let down by the current system. A maze of assessments and a mountain of paper stand between them and getting their child the support parents feel they need. Thanks to Sarah Teather's hard work and the Department of Health's invaluable assistance and commitment to the reforms, this Green Paper takes forward the Liberal Democrat determination to put families at the centre of our approach to special educational needs through joining up services and having them work together to achieve the best outcomes. By identifying problems early and acting immediately the new approach will allow children to be independent and successful in their chosen futures."

Commenting further, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Committee for Education, Young People and Families in the Lords, Baroness (Joan) Walmsley, said"The reforms proposed are not another top-down imposition of government on families who need support. "Thanks to the thousands of submission from parents, teachers and young people who have been part of the system, these proposals are based on how people experience the system and on what they told the Government they needed to achieve their goals and ambitions. This will give parents much needed confidence in the system. The opportunity for the third sector to get involved will give further confidence in the independence of the assessment process."