We Need to Know How Many Unlawful Exclusions There Are…

J  told us about her struggle to get to her son educated in a mainstream school.  She made it clear she believes the school acted without regard to the law; and saw inclusion as an add-on it couldn’t afford.  J, however, stuck to her demands and, eventually, it has been the school that has changed. …Read moreRead more

The Shame of Seeing Money Wasted

G has two children with additional needs.  Her daughter is 21 and has global development delay.   She is still battling to get her the support she needs.  G’s non-verbal autistic son does get extra support – Birmingham City Council pays for him to go to a private school outside the city .  But G feels…Read moreRead more

‘I Couldn’t Believe There Were No Resources…’

  C’s child has autism.  He is now 13 and at a special school in Birmingham, but the move to special school took more than a year.  During the time he was in mainstream school and whilst the family waited for the assessments and reports to be done to get him a place at special…Read moreRead more

A Hellish Journey…

  K told us about a 4 -5 year journey during which her daughter Q had little, or no, access to school.  Laura commented: ‘I have rarely seen such inappropriate assessment and responses to a very bright, capable young girl who just needs a customised approach’. K’s daughter Q is now at a special school…Read moreRead more

Bridge to Better Local Offer

CQ Members and Supporters follow up on their Campaign for a Better Local Offer on December 3 with representatives of local councils and John Coughlan, the newly appointed Government Commissioner for SEND Services in Birmingham invited. Ofsted’s SEND Local Area Inspection Reports found: in Birmingham, that the City Council was: still without a strategy; still not…Read moreRead more

Do We Need a Better Local Offer?

We think SEND children, young people and their families in Birmingham should have a better Local Offer. Join us by Zoom on 8th and 22nd July to share your experience… The City Council has been given funds by government to improve the Local Offer. The Council says it wil use most of this money to…Read moreRead more

Do We Need a Better Local Offer?

We think SEND children, young people and their families in Birmingham should have a better Local Offer. Join us by Zoom on 8th and 22nd July to share your experience… The City Council has been given funds by government to improve the Local Offer. The Council says it wil use most of this money to…Read moreRead more

New Local SEND Offer

Tuesday 4 May 10-11am Much-needed additional money for the Local Offer for SEND Children might not be enough to ‘fix’ mainstream schools which off-roll and persistently exclude children who ‘don’t fit the box’.  Instead, CQ says, the SEND Local Offer could be made co-operatively between schools and communities. Join the Zoom chat online to look…Read moreRead more

Make Holiday Clubs ‘Fit For All’

Children’s Quarter wants SEND children to be able to take part in inclusive holiday clubs funded by government and organised by local councils.  These services are being funded for the most vulnerable young people through government’s Holiday Activities and Food Fund.  We say they should include disabled children and that groups that are committed to…Read moreRead more

About Children on the Autistic Spectrum and their Experience of School

Of children on the autism spectrum: over a third (34%) say that the worst thing about being at school is being picked on; nearly two -thirds (63%) are not in the kind of school their parents believe would best support them; more than 1 in 6 have been suspended from school; and 1 in 25 has…Read moreRead more