Wrexham is one of only two pilot areas in Wales testing a new Education (Wales) Measure which allows children themselves to be able to make their own special educational needs appeal and claim of disability discrimination. Presently this can only be done by parents.
The measure is a groundbreaking step towards increasing the participation of children in processes and matters that affect them. The rights are being tested in two pilot areas in Wales – Wrexham and Carmarthenshire – after which it is anticipated that it will be rolled out to all children in Wales.
Cllr Arfon Jones, Lead Member for Children said:
‘It is a child’s right to have their voice heard in decisions that affect them. The current situation in which only the child’s parents may make an appeal to the tribunal is often unsatisfactory. I am delighted that Wrexham has been chosen as a pilot area for this measure.
The latest Annual Report from SENTW (2010-2011) has shown that once again Wrexham has one of the lowest number of appeals to the Tribunal in Wales (only one appeal in 2010 -2011) even though generally across Wales there has been an upward trend in the number of appeals registered.
