Consultation display

Information on the inquiry is also available in Microsoft Word format.

 

The Children, Young People and Education Committee is conducting an inquiry into disabled children and young people’s access to childcare and education and the extent to which childcare providers, schools and local authorities meet their duties under the Equality Act 2010.

 

Article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) means that all disabled children have special rights to education and care. The UNCRC says these should be provided free of charge, whenever possible, and be designed to ensure that disabled children have  effective access to and receive education, training, health care services, rehabilitation services, preparation for employment and recreation opportunities in a manner conducive to achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development, including cultural and spiritual development.

 

Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People means that the  UK agrees to protect and promote the human rights of disabled people, including through ensuring an inclusive education system.

 

In this inquiry, the Committee would like to understand how children and young people who are neurodivergent, have physical, sensory or learning disabilities are able to access all aspects of education and childcare.

 In particular:

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>>>The extent to which children and learners are currently able to access all parts of childcare and education provision, including the way in which the curriculum is taught and extra-curricular activities.

>>>The extent to which children and young people have been excluded from aspects of education or childcare due to their disability or neurodivergence.

>>>The extent to which families and children feel that they have been affected by direct, indirect or discrimination arising from disability.

>>>The impact of any lack of or limited access on a child or young person’s mental health and well-being and educational outcomes.

>>>The barriers for schools and childcare providers in offering accessible provision

>>>How well disabled and neurodivergent children and their families are consulted or informed of the choices in education or childcare available to them.

>>>Whether parents of disabled and neurodivergent children and the children themselves receive effective information and support from local authorities and schools

>>>Whether disabled and neurodivergent children and parents of disabled and neurodivergent children have the same level of choice as other children and parents and what issues affect choice or school or childcare.

>>>The extent to which there is adequate provision for children with different types of disabilities.

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How to share your views

We collect evidence in varying formats. This often takes the form of people sending information in writing that can be sent to us by email. We can also accept other types  of evidence, such as videos. Please email your views to  seneddchildren@senedd.wales

 

We want to make sure that we are being as inclusive and accessible as possible. We are open to your ideas about how you would like to share your views with us. Please contact us and we can have a chat about the best way for you to get involved.

 

We also want to hear from you if you feel we have created any inadvertent barriers to you being involved. We want to make sure we are being as inclusive and accessible as possible, and if this isn’t happening, we want to hear how we can change this.

 

Evidence gathering

We will be collecting information over the next few months, over the summer and into the autumn. All the information will be used to help us to ask questions of the Welsh Government at the end of the this piece of work.  Your information will help us  create ideas for what  changes we want to see  happen. We want to make sure that our work is informed by experiences, needs, and views that reflect the diversity of the people and communities affected by these issues.

 

The closing date for submissions is 29 September 2023.

 

Along with your submission, you should provide the following information:

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>>>Your name and contact details as the person, or organisation, submitting the evidence.

>>>Whether your evidence is submitted as an individual, or on behalf of an organisation.

>>>If you are submitting evidence as an individual and confirmation that you are over 18 years old.

>>>If you are under 13 years old, your parent or guardian’s agreement that you can participate (this can be provided via email).

>>>Please let us know if you would prefer that your name is not published (names of individuals under 18 years old will not be published).

>>>Please let us know if you want your submission to be treated as confidential, and why you want to keep it confidential .

>>>If you have referred to a third party in your evidence, confirmation that they have agreed that you can share information that may be used to identify them and that they understand that it will be published.

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Providing Written Evidence

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

 

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme, the Committee welcomes contributions in both or either of our official languages, and we ask organisations that are subject to Welsh Language standards or schemes to respond in line with their own obligations. Please inform the Committee when submitting responses if you intend to provide a translation at a later date.

 

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

 

Disclosure of information

Please ensure that you have considered the Senedd’s policy on disclosure of information before submitting information to the Committee.