EastEnders star Kellie Bright has spoken candidly about her journey to get support for her son, who has special educational needs (SEN).
The Linda Carter actress, 47, shares sons Freddie, 12, Gene, 7, and Rudy, 1, with husband Paul Stocker, and during an item on BBC’s The One Show last night (14th May), discussed the long process of getting an Educational Health Care (EHC) assessment for her eldest son.
During the film, she spoke with other mums who have found themselves in a similar situation to herself.
She has previously opened up on social media, which prompted a number of responses from parents who were also struggling to break through the hurdles required to get an EHC (education, health and care) assessment.
Explaining that Freddie has dyslexia, ADHD and autism, she told viewers: ‘Last year, he was at the point of leaving primary school and transitioning to secondary school and we knew he would need extra support.
‘You need to fill in lengthy forms and present reams of evidence and there can be a long wait to find out if your child is even being assessed. Many, like my son, are turned down on the first try.’
She then met one woman who paid £300 for someone to help initiate an assessment, and another who spent 2 years gathering what local authorities see as sufficient ‘evidence’ to support a case.
‘My final email I sent 21 attachments, and I was like, if this doesn’t work, I’m done. I felt so strongly that my son had a legal right to be assessed’ she added.
Kellie then explained the lengthy process: ‘Local authorities have 20 weeks from the date they receive an assessment request to give the final EHC plan, yet according to government data, more than half of parents have to wait longer than this just to be assessed.
‘The parents I’ve met have been able to get private help, but not everyone can afford that. I want to know if it’s possible to get a fairer system in place.’
Meeting with Margaret Mulholland, the SEND and Inclusion specialist at The Association of School and College Leaders, she began to break down as she noted that although she has been able to secure an EHC for Freddie, she still has concerns for his wellbeing.
‘I just want my son to get through his education and come out the other side of it feeling good about himself. He has such negative feelings about himself.’
She also said that she’s been given ‘given a sense of hope in a hopeless situation’ after hearing back from a local government association.
They told her: ‘Councils do their best to ensure children are supported, but delays to these plans are a result of the increasing demand and insufficient funding. They should also be given additional powers to lead local SEND systems effectively.’
It added that the number of EHCPs has increased every year since they were introduced in 2014.
On Instagram, Kellie added: ‘I have made a short film about EHCPs. Why is it so difficult to get one? Why are there such huge delays? What needs to change? Just a few aspects of looking at a system that is not fit for purpose. It is just the tip of the iceberg.
‘So, so much more to talk about around #send and #education in this country. I have wanted to talk about this topic for a long time. I hope other parents of SEND children feel like they are being represented in some way as I know I am just one of many. It’s time to talk LOUDER. It’s time for things to change.’
