In the United Kingdom, our education system is renowned for many things, but when it comes to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children, it often falls short. As a parent of a child with SEN, I have experienced firsthand the challenges and frustration that come with trying to secure the necessary support for my child’s education. The current system, which excludes parents from SEND panel hearings, often leaves decisions about a child's educational needs to individuals who have never met these children. This needs to change.

Children with Special Educational Needs are continuously being let down by a system that doesn’t cater to their unique educational requirements. It is perplexing and unjust that a panel of local authority representatives, who have little to no personal connection with these children, wield significant influence over decisions that affect their education and future. Oftentimes, these panel members make determinations from a purely bureaucratic standpoint, lacking insight into the child’s individual personality, strengths, and needs that only a parent can provide.

Parents are already exhausted by endless battles at tribunals, fighting for what should be the rightful support for their child's education. What’s more, this process wastes valuable time and taxpayer money, not to mention the precious time lost from the child's education while these disputes drag on. If parents were allowed to attend SEND panel hearings, they could offer immediate input and insights, answering questions on the spot and helping reach a resolution more swiftly. This direct involvement could lead to more informed decisions that truly reflect the child’s needs, thereby providing better educational outcomes for SEN children.

Research from various educational studies highlights that parental involvement in educational planning has a positive impact on student achievement. Furthermore, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that decisions affecting children should take their best interests into account, which is more effectively done with parental input.

Let's push for a change that respects parents' rights to be involved in their children's education and ultimately benefits SEN students who are currently slipping through the cracks. We demand that it becomes mandatory for parents to be allowed to attend SEND panel hearings concerning their child. Join me in calling for this simple yet powerful change.

Please sign this petition and urge local authorities to mandate parental attendance in SEND panel hearings. Our children's education and future depend on it.