Many special schools are defying the law by failing to offer places to students over 19, says an expert.
Evelyn Ashford, director of advisory organisation Educational Equality, says the schools are flouting new laws extending education to the age of 25.
Evelyn Ashford: special schools “failing to offer provision up to 25”
She says very few special schools have adapted to changes introduced by the Children and Families Act 2014.
Under the legislation children with special needs can stay in education until the age of 25, provided they benefit from the input.
The old system saw everyone leave at 19.
‘No places’ in special schools
Ashford, 53, from Somerset, said: “It’s all very well saying how wonderful it is to go up to 25, but there are no places.”
She maintains there are only a “handful” of schools across the “entire country” offering places up to 25.
Ashford’s 20-year-old son has Asperger syndrome and attends the Somerset residential college Farleigh. The college takes students with Asperger’s up to 25.
Ashford, whose firm offers legal advice to parents about special needs education, had to move 57 miles from Wiltshire to find a college that would offer her son a place until he is 25.
Families left with little choice
She believes the lack of post-19 provision leaves many families with little choice but to accept unsuitable day services.
But she maintains schools will eventually begin accommodating students up to 25 as more parents demand it.
Claire Dorer is the chief executive of the National Association of Independent & Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS).
She said special schools must set up a new service to offer places beyond the age of 19.
The Education Skills and Funding Agency approves new services and provides funding when 10 places are filled.
Dorer admits “relatively few” schools have gone down this route.
Instead, she said there had been more growth in schools that were “developing post-19 social care”.
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Published: 26 November 2017
