Extend tracking of children with special needs

AN annual assessment of young people with special educational needs up to the age of 25 should be included in any changes to care legislation, MPs have been told.

Graham Quinn, head at Oldham’s New Bridge School, said aspiration is easier to monitor for mainstream children: they follow a strict curriculum and assessments at key stages, then move on to higher education.

Giving evidence to the Commons Education Select Committee, which is considering proposals to change provision for young people with special needs, he urged MPs to ensure annual monitoring up to the age of 25 was written into law.

He said: “An annual assessment to 25 would be welcomed. The young people we work with often go out of the system. These are young people who don’t have support, because they have significant behavioural problems, mental-health issues or profound learning disabilities. If we can do this through the new plan coming in, that would be great.”

The changes would mean an end to statements that detail what help a child with special needs requires. This would be replaced by an education health and care plan taking an overall approach to need, rather than focusing on educational aspects.

Statements are currently limited to the age of leaving school; the changes would extend this to 25, when adult support is available.