Our session on the impact of COVID-19 on the education of children and young people with SEND has started.

We'll hear from Amanda Batten @DCPcampaign, Philippa Stobbs @CDC_tweets, Ali Fiddy @IPSEAcharity & Imogen Jolley @Simpson_millar

: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/7f134072-fb79-443c-a520-6524a888e4c5

Live tweets

@halfon4harlowmp asks if children with SEND have been forgotten during COVID-19. Amanda Batten @DCPcampaign says their survey found families feel forgotten. 45% say their child's physical health has worsened, and just over 70% said emotional and mental heath was worse.

Philippa Stobbs of the Special Educational Consortium @CDC_tweets responds that variable interpretation of the 'reasonable endeavours' duty during the pandemic has been problematic. Pre-existing problems in the system have been exacerbated.

On the question of whether children and young people with SEND have been forgotten during the pandemic, Imogen Jolley @Simpson_millar adds that in their survey 60% of families with SEND saw a significant drop off in services.

Ali Fiddy @IPSEAcharity says that the pandemic is set against a background of a deepening crisis in SEND provision. Children and young people are not vulnerable because they have SEND, they are vulnerable because of how the system treats them.

Amanda Batten @DCPcampaign adds that school is not a safe space for all children and a small number of children have benefitted from being out of school. Numbers of school refusals are likely to go up going forward.

@Christian4BuryS ask whether a sense of abandonment has been particularly acute for children? @IPSEAcharity has heard from families who've felt abandoned, with no guidance or additional support for children who receive SEN support-the majority of children with SEND.

@tomhunt1988 asks how to reintegrate children with emotional and mental challenges - will schools need external expertise to do that? Amanda Batten @DCPcampaign says that additional support is needed. Not every child with SEND will be back into school in September without it.

Ali Fiddy @IPSEAcharity responds to @KimJohnsonMP that the temporary relaxation of legal duties, not children being absent from school, is the barrier to children being assessed for EHCPs. If Local Authorities don't make appealable decisions in this period, parents cannot appeal.

@ApsanaBegumMP asks about PPE in schools. Amanda Batten @DCPcampaign says shielding families have found guidance confusing, with concerns about school arrangements. @Simpson_millar adds that schools will have concerns about the budget to properly support returners.

Also on the return to school, for children and young people with SEND, @IPSEAcharity notes the risk that children with the greatest personal care needs miss out.

@JEGullis asks about school transport for children with SEND. @CDC_tweets says transport needs to be an integral part of local recovery plans. @Simpson_millar adds large numbers of children without a placement for September will have as yet unidentified transport issues.

@IanMearnsMP asks about the impact of temporary relaxation of requirements for LAs on EHCPs. @Simpson_millar says a significant number of children are not getting the provision set out in their EHCPs. This is becoming more acute, with a drop-off in therapy provision.

On the relaxation of EHCP requirements and the NHS, @CDC_tweets replies to @DSimmonds_RNP that the COVID-related situation has exacerbated the underlying problem of not having good joint commissioning arrangements in enough local areas to make provision in the first place.

@david4wantage asks about lessons learnt from changes to the SEND tribunal. @Simpson_millar says the tribunal has held up well. Virtual hearings aren’t for everyone, but a number of parents have welcomed them. More flexibility about how hearings run would be good.

@IPSEAcharity adds that not all families can participate fully in virtual hearings. Video hearings could be an option, but should not be compulsory.

@tomhunt1988 asks if Ofsted should be able to award schools a good or outstanding grade with concerns about SEND provision? @CDC_tweets says the new Ofsted framework has picked up on SEND more effectively than before. @IPSEAcharity raises the need to incentivise inclusion.

@halfon4harlowMP asks what single action would have most positive impact for children and young people with SEND as they return to school. @CDC_tweets responds that it would be holding every public body to account more assiduously for responsibilities under the Equality Act.

On the action that would have most positive impact for children and young people with SEND going forward, @Simpson_millar identifies individualised risk assessment and local assessment, supported by appropriate funding to meet needs.

@IPSEAcharity adds the need for proper scrutiny of what's happening on the ground while the temporary relaxations to regulations are in place. Finally, @DCPcampaign asks for the Government to recognise the effect of COVID-19 on families of children with SEND, who feel forgotten.