National curriculum treating children ‘like sheep’ fuels rise in need for SEN schools, says Sutton Bridge councillor

The requirement for special education needs schools is on the rise due to the ‘appalling way the national curriculum treats young people’, a councillor has claimed.

Coun Chris Brewis made the comments during last Tuesday’s South Holland District Council planning committee meeting, where he accused the Government of treating youngsters like ‘sheep, rather than individuals’.

Speaking during a debate which saw the committee approve plans for a home in Whaplode to be converted into a SEN school he highlighted ongoing problems around the Sutton Bridge area, which he represents.

“I suspect we will get considerably more applications of this sort, largely down to the appalling way the national curriculum treats young people in this country,” said Coun Brewis, a South Holland Independent.

“It treats them as sheep in groups rather than individuals. The effect on young people is appalling.

“Unfortunately, the education system in this country is the worst in the developed world – and that’s largely caused by constant nonsensical directions from Government above.”

Coun Brewis continued: “In my own ward, in the last year, I’ve had three people come to me wanting placements for young people who have serious problems.

“Two have had to go out of county and one has had to go a very long way, and I think we’re going to have a lot of these.”

SEN schools offer education to children suffering with a range of needs including behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, as well as impairments, physical disabilities and autism.