(UK) Petition for PM Boris Johnson; govt "not providing support" for special needs students

Oct 16, 2021, Express: 'Something has to change': campaigner urges Boris to ensure support for disabled children https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1506940/education-campaign-disabled-children-let-us-learn-too-boris-johnson?fbclid=IwAR12tVWVWEoc9FNMT3kL8slJHwWb-wTl2nSqbZiNfdhlAyZKEdvqDn8J-zo

Ellie-Mai O'Reilly, 12, who has autism, ADHD, lower limb loss and an eye tremor, has struggled to fit in at a mainstream school. Her family have been fighting for years to get her into a special needs school, where she would be with other children with similar needs. In her letter to the Prime Minister, Ellie-Mai describes how she has found it hard to settle in, keep up with the work set and make friends. Ellie-Mai, from Sutton, south London, said: "We have reached a point where I don't feel like I can show my face at school any more…. "Something has to change, are you the man to do it?"… The team also delivered a petition signed by more than 11,000 people, including celebrities Stephen Fry and Piers Morgan. It highlighted problems disabled children and young people are facing with accessing an education. It also raised concerns about the Government's review of support for people with special educational needs and disabilities, known as Send. Hayley Harding, 38, who co-founded the group with three other mothers, said too many local authorities are not providing support to which disabled children are entitled….