(UK) SPED crisis leaves kids open to "criminal, sexual exploitation"

Nov 25, 2024, Guardian: Send crisis in England and Wales leaving children more vulnerable, says report

Experts point to increased risk of criminal and sexual exploitation and call for urgent action from government

The crisis in special needs education has left children vulnerable to criminal and sexual exploitation, experts have warned, as parents of victims described years of failed attempts to get support.

Last year, 7,432 children were referred to the national referral mechanism – the framework for identifying potential victims of trafficking and modern slavery in England and Wales.

A “high proportion” of such cases involve children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), according to research funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC).