In this very emotional plea, Castle Douglas mother of 6 year old Autistic child ‘Sam’ Theresa Burton, tells DGWGO how she is extremely worried for Sam’s future after D&G Councils cuts to learning support:-
Theresa told DGWGO news ” When I was asked to write this article I went through a momentary panic at the responsibility I knew I faced to get it right, you see this story isn’t just mine and my sons, it’s echoed by all the sons and daughters across Dumfries and Galloway and into the wider world that have additional learning needs.
So what do I know? Well, in truth, probably not a lot. I’m just a mum trying to do her best with her son. I do know that the council has to make cuts, as do every other local authority in the United Kingdom. I do know that in 2013 just over 20% of children in schools were identified as having additional learning needs.
I also know that Dumfries and Galloway Council were challenged before on the cuts to Learning Support, several times, and still pushed through the agenda despite being given alternative budgets to slash for savings. Budgets that would not necessarily have the devastating impact on lives like we are seeing now. In their haste to make these cuts they also received a hefty penalty from the Scottish Government for not maintaining their teacher/pupil ratios further compromising the funds available to support students in the region.
But none of that really matters. What matters is ground-zero. The day-to-day impact on the kids. This is where I can at least consider myself somewhat an expert on the subject.
When my son began school in primary one he was in the process of assessment. This was a really turbulent time for all our family. Sam hated school. There is no other way to describe it – but it wasn’t the usual topical dislike of school because he wanted his mummy, or he didn’t like being told what to do (Although, at times this is very relevant as with all kids) it was the change to his routine, the dealing with other kids day in and day out, the noise, people pushing and bumping him. The name calling and the bullying. Sam had no fine motor skills, he couldn’t form words on paper at all. He routinely hid work from me, saying that he didn’t want me to see it. That it looked so bad compared to others.
He told me that he didn’t want to be Sam anymore. That Sam “Never did anything right”. Those are words that still haunt me to this day.
The Sam of today, is not the Sam of Primary One. Thanks to the amazing dedication, patience and utter heroism of Castle Douglas Primary school Sam has come so far. He is now first in line to get into class. He can write his name. He has learned to spell with methods to get around his writing difficulties. He has opportunities to attend Hydro pool. He has made friends. In short, with support, Sam feels like he can achieve anything – including a petition to the council to try and have the funding reinstated for children like him across the region.
My son, like many others in the region, now faces the prospect of having his support cut in class. Currently he gets support throughout the school day along with two other boys in the classroom who are also on the spectrum.
My son requires support with the everyday things of school – getting to and from the dining hall, managing changes in the school day, keeping focused on his work, particular help with his fine motor skills, he requires support developing and maintaining friendships, he needs support to make sure he eats his lunch in a timely manner, he needs support to make sure he understands and carries out instructions – He literally needs support the entire day.
By cutting the support my son receives, and those other children in Dumfries and Galloway the council are not only harming their ability to thrive and reach their potential, but they are going against the Scottish Government guidance in Getting It Right For Every Child making it difficult, if not impossible, for children with special needs to achieve their wellbeing indicators of Safe, Healthy, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Responsible, Respected and Included. They are also fundamentally breaking the law under the Education Act, which states local authorities must provide the support required by those identified as having additional learning needs.
More than this, by cutting the support in schools, the presence of bodies in classes to help, they are writing thousands of children off and harming their futures. These cuts will impact all children across Dumfries and Galloway as the pressure increases in class with the lack of learning support, there will be less time overall to ensure everyone gets the time they need, and that they deserve.
Our society is reflected by how we care for our children and provide for their futures. I can only hope that Dumfries and Galloway Council understand the impact these cuts will have, not only now, but in ten years’ time when young adults are being left without prospects having been let down in early childhood education.”
To sign Theresa’s Petition please click this link https://www.change.org/p/dumfries-and-galloway-council-help-get-funding-for-the-learning-support-in-dumfries-and-galloway
