#TheseAreOurChildren - Asking for a cross party agreement for Education for our Children and their Rights

‘My child experienced the 'system' at its worst. I couldn't prevent her pain and horrific experience. It’s 2017. It’s time for real change in the system. It’s outdated and it’s failing on every level. Our exceptional children deserve a modern education that encompasses all of their needs. Every child matters (or did we forget that) and every child has equal worth and has a right to a life with real purpose without fear of maltreatment or ‘babysitting’. It’s time our children were heard’. Elly, Ella’s Mum

‘My child deserves to thrive….What matters most is listening to what she can't say’. Jane, Holly’s Mum

'We are our children's voice, all of our children. For those who cannot speak, those who aren't heard and those who face uncertainty daily. We have to be courageous and stand together'  Mark, Harvey’s Dad

We have listened and read so many stories from parents about their Exceptional Children and what is happening daily in our country, a first world country.

Parents of children with additional needs are expected to be Teachers, Doctors, Lawyers, EHCP experts and expert in many more roles daily. We are expected to have endless funds and have the equivalent of SAS training in sleep deprivation.

We are then ignored; bullied and intimidated when things go wrong or don’t work because the system didn’t listen to us or our children. The broken system shuts down or around us, our children suffer and our hearts break over and over again. 

Eleanor King spoke for our children, thank you Eleanor for your amazing words, clarity of understanding and support:

Under Lock and Key Spoken Word

We ask the following of our petitioned parties:

• We want to know why is it acceptable to use restraint or methods of force with our children in schools both residential and non-residential and have improper or no investigation of their injuries or mental distress. Our children's challenging behaviour is a COMMUNICATION. It is not an invitation to strip them of their self-worth and dignity. Where is the guidance on Restrictive Interventions and why is there no mandatory guidance to ensure Positive Behaviour Support and training/standards across the UK? It is 2017 not 1907.
• We want a whistle blowing service for parents and families. Those in employment to 'support' our children have one so why are we discriminated against? Why do we have to go through years of 'complaint processes' when things go wrong, and the outcome leaves our children no better off?
• We want a mandatory level of qualification/skill to be able to work with and educate our exceptional children. We want further mandatory training for all those working with our exceptional children at every level, relevant to specific disability or need.

Would you employ a gardener to do specialised welding work? No, you wouldn't and the HSE wouldn't allow it either.

• We are made accountable for everything, every day for our children – WE WANT accountability from the system.

No More Excuses…we will not allow our children to continue to bear the brunt of the failing system, be hurt or mentally scarred by their experience or blamed for rising social care costs because they haven’t been Respected, Listened to or Educated when they have every right to be a part of society and learn and develop like any other child.

We do not accept low levels of unskilled support and lack of accountability as an excuse anymore. We don’t accept that Joint Commissioning isn’t working; we don’t accept that EHCPs are in the mess they are, we don’t accept that the UNCRC recommendations are ignored. And we DO NOT accept that our children can be maltreated in ANY way.

We demand change and that we as the experts in our children are strategically involved to deliver such change.

We ask for cross party agreement for our Children's Education and Rights to enable longevity in solution to the current failing system. 

#TheseAreOurChildren - all of our children.