Feb 9, 2025, Sky News: Almost half of parents of children with disabilities struggle to find a school that meets their child's needs
Families are said to be at "breaking point" as they try to navigate the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system to get their children the help they believe they need.
"It breaks my heart," says a parent of a child with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
But navigating the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system can be an overwhelming battle.
Tiya She has spent years fighting to secure the right educational support for her five-year-old son, Arun.
Arun has DLD, a lifelong language disorder that affects at least two children in every classroom.
"We were completely broken hearing this news. It was absolutely earth-shattering," she told Sky News.
Ms Currie added: "We had to very quickly accept his disorder and disability and focus on how to secure his future.
"It's really heartbreaking to see that he can't engage with everyone around him.
"It breaks my heart to see him go through that.
"He is my baby."
For Ms Currie, the process of securing an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) was exhausting.
"At every step, there were hurdles, obstacles, challenges. It was really, really difficult the whole way through," she explained.
After facing repeated dismissals from professionals, the family was forced to spend £16,000 [$20K] on private assessments, reports, and legal support to prove Arun's needs.
Currie, a mother from north London, knows this struggle all too well.
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