(UK) Yorkshire: Parents protest against SPED department; charges of neglect

Sept 9, 2017, (UK) The Sheffield Star, Yorkshire: Hundreds march to protest Sheffield Council's 'failings' towards children with special needs http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/hundreds-march-to-protest-sheffield-council-s-failings-towards-children-with-special-needs-1-8745360 Hundreds of parents, children and charity workers gathered in Sheffield today to protest against the council’s Special Education Needs department - which campaigners say is failing vulnerable kids. The demonstration, which was organised by Equalities and Human Rights UK and Sparkle Sheffield, saw 250 people march from Devonshire Green to the Town Hall for a rally on Saturday afternoon. Campaigners say the authority is using finances rather than needs to shape its policies for youngsters with autism and other learning disabilities. They say children are missing out on places at special schools because the council is taking too long to set up education, health and care plans. The plans are legally binding agreements that cost councils money. ... Chrissy added: “The council apologised for delays in administration but not for anything else - not for the failings that have seen some children being out of school for as long as 16 months. “These decisions have a big impact. Some of these children who aren’t in the right school, have been pulling out their hair, pulling out their eyelashes, pulling out chunks of their arms because they’re not in the right place for them.