Croydon Mayor says "Sorry" over speech therapy failures
Providing these services is a legal requirement upon the Council to families in receipt of an ECHP (Education Care & Health Plan) for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The Mayor's apology was requested by Liberal Democrat Cllr Claire Bonham (Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood) following a Full Council meeting held on Wednesday 22nd October.
Cllr Bonham said:
"I have been contacted by parents who are deeply distressed about the lack of communication from Croydon about why this important service has been unavailable to children for weeks and months. At such a young age, it is crucial that children are receiving the help and support that they are legally entitled - every session missed is a step backwards.
"Whilst the Mayor's apology is a start, he will be judged upon the Council quickly getting to grips with these failings, and provides extra support to children and families who have missed out on crucial services through no fault of their own.
One parent told Cllr Bonham:
"Our little girl has had no SLT support since she was born over 4 years ago, finally with an EHCP we thought she would get the support listed but so far nothing. We want the best for our little girl but feel powerless to give her the support she needs.
Many parents and schools said that they were not properly informed about the suspension of the service. While schools have been proactive and supportive, without the specialist input from a speech and language therapist, they are unable to use the time set aside for their pupils in a targeted or effective way.
Some parents have been offered the option of receiving a personal budget in order to commission this provision themselves, this should not have become necessary. It is the local authority’s legal duty to ensure the delivery of the provision set out in children's EHCPs, and it is concerning that patents are now being placed in the position of having to manage and source that provision.
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