Actress Kellie Bright reveals ‘battle’ to get her autistic son support
Kellie Bright opens up about being a Send parent
- EastEnders star Kellie Bright has revealed the significant challenges she faced securing appropriate education for her son, who has autism, dyslexia, and ADHD, describing the process as a "battle".
- Bright's personal experience is featured in a new Panorama documentary, where she meets other families navigating similar difficulties within England's special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system.
- The documentary highlights cases like Tunde, whose autistic son Buddy struggled to obtain an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and school placement, forcing Tunde to temporarily stop work as a midwife.
- Councils across the country are facing spiralling high needs deficits, estimated at £3.3 billion by 2024, due to a substantial increase in demand for EHCPs.
- The government plans to reform the Send system in the Schools White Paper, with assurances that legal rights to additional support will remain.