Meeting with Vicky Ford, Minister for Children and Families

Chris Bryant, MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Acquired Brain Injury tabled a parliamentary question on Monday 8^th March relating to acquired brain injuries and Special Educational Needs. The Minister for Children and Families invited Chris to meet and discuss the issues further with members of the National Acquired Brain Injury in Learning and Education Syndicate (N-ABLES) and UKABIF’s Executive Director, Chloe Hayward.

N-ABLES member, Dr Emily Bennett gave the Minister an overview of the key issues highlighting some key points

• Around 40,000 children a year are seen in hospital with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). We know this is a huge underestimate, as there are a lot of children who don't attend hospital and there are difficulties with the coding of ABI's.

• Estimates from national statistics suggest the equivalent to one child in every class will have had an acquired brain injury by the time they complete school - the figures and the awareness that goes alongside this is limited compared to autism, ADHD or dyslexia.

• A service evaluation from Nottingham showed only 48% of patients with ABI were on the SEN register and 29% actually had an EHCP. It takes approximately 20 weeks to get an EHCP - these children fall between the gaps, there's, there's a lack of knowledge across all disciplines, social care, community services and so on.

• Teachers and SENCOS receive very little, if any training about ABI.

• It is estimated around 70% of the child's rehab happens through school or college – it is an essential and potentially brilliant rehab setting for children. There is only one inpatient setting in the country, so children usually go back to their previous school, with new needs and we want them to get that rehab right.

• If we do not get support right, outcomes can be poor and include increased dependence on lots of different services; overrepresentation in the criminal justice system, increased mental health difficulties and homelessness.

• When we do get it right young people are more likely to stay in education, gain employment and participate more successfully in society. Teachers are highly skilled at meeting the needs of these young people, but they need to know how best to do that, and what they need.

The minister suggested several potential opportunities for input including:

• Inclusion of information about acquired brain injury in the annex to the SEN code of practice 
• Information in the review of ‘Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school’ guidance
• Input into support and statutory training for SENCOs
• Input into the review of the designated health officer’s role
• Input into guidance on concussion in schools
• Information in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’
• Sharing information about ABI with the Virtual School heads for Children Looked After

Those present were connected with a representative from the Department for Education who will lead follow up in the areas listed.

Chloe Hayward, Executive Director of UKABIF said, “The meeting was really successful. The Minister understood the very specific difficulties for children and young people with ABI and made some very positive suggestions. We are looking forward to working closely with the Department for Education in taking these forward.”

For further information about N-ABLES see https://ukabif.org.uk/page/NABLES