Brighton and Hove Parents Express Disappointment Over SEND Support Shortfalls

Families with children requiring special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support have voiced their dissatisfaction with Brighton and Hove City Council’s reply regarding requests for holiday clubs and after-school programs. Helen Irving, a campaigner for SEND Us A Break, submitted a petition bearing nearly 1,400 signatures to the council’s cabinet, drawing attention to the “insufficient childcare services and short breaks”. Councillor Mitchie Alexander stated that 678 sessions were provided during the summer period, with 418 of these being specialist sessions tailored for children and young people with complex needs. However, campaigners informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the council’s explanation “shrouds the real situation”. A statement issued by SEND Us A Break asserted: “The response from the council and the statistics they provided about the childcare they had offered shrouds the real situation here.” The group further elaborated, stating: “[The] sessions they refer to are half days, and the council doesn’t say how many children with SEND these sessions were divided between.” It was also highlighted that: “Many children with SEND, particularly those with complex needs who need one-to-one or two-to-one support, were only offered four days across the whole of the six-week summer holidays.” The advocacy group additionally noted the presence of “a real issue of inequality”, which imposed “an enormous burden on families – practically, emotionally and financially”. During the petition’s presentation, Ms Irving disclosed that she had taken three weeks of leave, with one week being unpaid, over the summer holidays, depending significantly on friends and her employer’s adaptability. An anonymous working mother of three described the summer holidays as “very challenging” for organizing appropriate childcare for her son, who lives with permanent physical and severe learning disabilities. She stated: “It took hours and hours of work trying to put in place childcare to meet his needs,” She continued: “Arrangements weren’t finalised until very close to the start of the holidays. Some arrangements fell through. Another arrangement did not meet his needs.” The mother added: “And all of this caused a lot of stress and more unpaid time off work than I could manage.” In her response on behalf of the council, Ms Alexander acknowledged that the petition had brought attention to the difficulties encountered by parents and carers. She affirmed: “Parents’ wishes and young persons’ needs have been accommodated as much as possible, often in creative and bespoke ways through one-to-one support and mainstream providers,” Ms Alexander concurred that there was a requirement for extended sessions during holidays and an increased number of sessions for children with complex needs. She further mentioned that the council was collaborating with special schools to provide after-school clubs and wrap-around care, and would also partner with the Parent Carers’ Council (PaCC) to enhance the available services.