I am a parent to three wonderful children, all of whom have disabilities. Our family is constantly penalized and overlooked due to their poor attendance, which is largely out of our control. This issue isn't unique to us; it's a widespread problem affecting many families across the country.

I have seen daily the struggles a lot of families have from not being able to get their child to school because of anxieties to children being late because of an illness and parents being penalized for this! 
A lot of Teachers are not noticing when our children are struggling with sensory issues or anxiety and this is pushing our children more to not wanting to go to school. 
The government now think that just because our child is getting a free meal that those problems just DISAPPEAR . 
Or that your child can now do more sports so those anxieties and sensory problems your child has will just DISAPPEAR. 

This is NOT going to happen and us parents NEED TO BE HEARD! 

There is over 50,000 families in the UK that need help and are NOT getting it! We are constantly Fighting with the Schools and the government. 

The problem also lies in the system that is very overwhelmed and can’t cope. There is a constant backlog of children on waiting lists to get a diagnosis for unmet needs. 

There are children out there that want to go to school but the schools can’t meet their needs and school will not admit this so then it gets pushed back to us parents.

There is a lot more but this would go on for pages! 

SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE AND PARENTS NEED TO BE HEARD! 

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, students with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be absent from school compared to their peers without disabilities. These absences often result in academic struggles and increased dropout rates (National Center for Learning Disabilities). Yet, rather than receiving support and understanding from schools, families like ours are often met with penalties and indifference.

We need policies that recognize the unique challenges faced by students with disabilities and provide them with the necessary support. Schools and the Government should work closely with these students and their families, offering flexible attendance policies that take into consideration their specific needs.

It's time we stop punishing these children for circumstances beyond their control. Instead, let's focus on creating an inclusive educational environment where every student has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Please sign this petition urging policymakers at all levels of government to address this pressing issue. Let's ensure no child is left behind because of disability-related absences.