Special Educational Needs Budget Controlled by Parents?

Parents to control special education needs budgets

In the biggest reform of SEN in 30 years it is suggested that parents should be given control over the educational needs budgets. By giving the parents control it will be prevented that they are sent from "pillar to post". Because of this change bureaucracy is diminished and children will get suitable help sooner and more efficiently organized.

Alison Ryan, policy adviser for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, hopes that agencies will plan their services together. She also adds though that many parents will be the best to present their child and decide what is best, but this cannot be said of every parent.

Ben Quinn, The Guardian, Tuesday 15 May 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/may/15/parents-special-educational-needs-budgets

Sarah Teather, the minister for children and families, said thousands of families have had to battle for years to get the care their children need.

Opinion.

This is an interesting discussion. I do believe that by giving parents the control over the budgets for their children, things will be arranged sooner and more efficient, because there is less bureaucracy. On the other hand are all parents suitable to manage such a budget? Will parents be guided and helped with making the decisions about the budget and what is best for their child? And how will be checked if the budget is actually spent on Special Educational Needs. In short, I think there are a lot of advantages, but there are also some critical remarks to be made that should be researched, before this plan is put in action.