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What is the issue?

Many disabled children get a raw deal from the education system.

• Two thirds of exclusions are of pupils with special educational needs (SEN).

The Audit Commission 2002 report, SEN: a mainstream issue.

• The planning of transition to adulthood is often inadequate.

Every Child Matters information on transition

• Disabled children are more likely to be bullied at school

Mencap research on bullying

What is the government doing about it?

• The government has a strategy for special educational needs
• The government published its Children's Plan in December 2007.
  This contains a commitment to address factors holding back the progress of children with SEN and disabled children, in particular bullying and high levels of school exclusions. This will include additional investment in teacher training.
• The government commissioned the Council for Disabled Children to produce a new guide to transition.
• As part of Aiming High for Disabled Children the government is developing a new transition support programme over 2008-2011.

What is Contact a Family doing about it?

• Researching parents’ experience of transition together with another charity, the Family Fund.
• Working with the Special Education Consortium (SEC) on lobbying on education issues.
• Working with the Anti Bullying Alliance to combat the bullying of disabled children.