Special needs school in my area may be closing due to lack of funding?

Question

How is it the government can find millions to build another Tate Gallery, but can't keep open special schools that are equipped for disabled or children with severe learing difficulties. Ok, i know some of these children will never grow up to leave school and get a job, but just to give them a bit of education, and mixing with children in situations like them is far more better than building another museum. Is the government spending tax payers money on what they want rather than what the public need?

Answer 1

CONTACT AMERICAN DISABILITES. AND ASK THEM THESE QUESTIONS .funding for schooling is being cut accross the board. We do not have money for schooling ,churches.jails. social security budget cuts. but let someone ask for a raise and they can find it.

Answer 2

Or to build a mosque !

Answer 3

you tell me one thing the government do to help people

and i will answer your question

for if you can tell me one thing the government do for people then

THATS THE ANSWER I WILL GIVE YOU

all they are interested in is feathering their own nests and filling the pockets of themselves and the rich donors to the parties

I thought the LOTTERY (THE peoples lottery LAUGH ha ha )

gave millions to art ballet  and other wealthy persons pastimes

remember the 50million given to opera

now ask for £50 to buy something for a youth club THATS A DIFFERENT MATTER

you cannot have it

THE LOTTERY IS FOR GOOD CAUSES

i wish it was Christmas so i could stop answering this as i could

GO ON & ON & ON & ON

well i have to stop as i only have 50p left for the electric

wonder if lottery will donate £5 to my electric bill

NOW THATS A GOOD CAUSE

Answer 4

Simple answer Lisa? The children with SEN's don't vote so what do the Gov care. That is why Parents have to be aware and make sure that their children get a FS Final Statement early on . Blunkett declared Inclusion Inclusion Inclusion...where did he go to school = A SPECIAL SCHOOL. Bit like these good old labour MP's. Stating These secondary schools are wonderful...really good. mmmm Diane Abbot MP? her child goes to a PRIVATE  school. Its a mess. the US have it right when it comes to S Education.

Answer 5

I am really sorry to hear this.  I work with children with learning difficulties in a secondary school. Everyday I struggle to understand why we have to fight for every penny to support these beautiful children.

I can't give you an answer to your question - I wish I could. But I do sympathise with you enormously.

Answer 6

I absolutely agree with you 100%.  The government has gone down the road of trying to integrate children with special needs into mainstream schools and whilst this is a good idea for children who are able to cope with this, many cannot cope!  I once treated a child who had cerebral palsy, which caused his hearing to be exceptionally oversensitive.  This child would hear  a noise, which you and I would consider normal and he would react wildly to it, causing him to have seizures.  - His local education authority wanted to place him in a mainstream classroom!  - Unbelievable!  Can you imagine the horror for the child at having to sit in a classroom full of noise making children?

Many children have problems which make them unsuitable candidates for mainstream classrooms.  Unfortunately, this is a money saving scheme started by politicians who have no ideas about what is best for these children.

For a more detailed discussion of these issues you could read the book 'Cerebral palsy: A guide to understanding and helping your child.'  It is available through http://www.snowdrop.cc

Answer 7

It is the same sad story where ever you go. In the area where I live the private sector is now building special schools with every facility the children could ever want. They have swimming pools, theatres and sensory rooms. Yet the Local Education Authority school has none of these facilities and is under threat of closure. I would love to be able to send my disabled child to one of these new privately funded schools but my child won't be funded by our LEA. It does feel like we are having our noses rubbed in it. Isn't education supposed to be for everyone, regardless of their ability or disability?

Answer 8

I totally agree with you, they have closed special needs schools in sheffield too. but the kids are likely to get jobs, and some get good qualifications and good jobs, so there is no need to close these schools down.

Answer 9

Seems to me like someone has their priorities all wrong

It is a child's right to access education and there are no excuses

Special educational needs children get a raw deal in our society and i speak from experience

I have waited 18 months to get my son into a school and it was a fight

No one was concerned at his lack of education and i feel that if it was not for my persistence my son could have got lost in the system

My son now has the chance to at least learn some basic social skills

He is 14 and i am amazed at how so many people wrote him off

His social worker said that my son would be good at stacking shelves

That comment highlights the ignorance in the system that special needs kids come across

No doubt when they close the school the lea will have to find suitable schools and fund the transport which in theory will be more expensive than actually keeping the school open

Answer 10

I do not believe that it is a case of saving money just an unwillingness to spend it on S.E.N. The government have been really clever in pretending that their soul aim is INCLUSION when everyone knows it is all about saving money. You are certainly not alone in your situation and it will not be long before everyone is in the same boat.i am all for inclusion when it is appropriate but what is happening and will continue to happen everywhere is criminal.