Parents feel 'cautiously optimistic'

Parents of children with special needs say they are relieved that the government's long-awaited reforms will avoid significant disruption for their families - but told the Guardian they fear getting help will remain a struggle.

- Rachel Hall Richard Adams

Becky whose son Kyllian has multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, and is registered blind - said she was "cautiously optimistic" about the reforms in England announced by Bridget Phillipson, and immediate relief that her son wouldn't have to move from his special school.

"I was worried they would shift the criteria and we'd be back at square one fighting for everything again ... I have a little bit more hope this time, I suppose, than with previous governments because they've actually done parent consultations," she said.

But Becky said the emphasis of the reforms appears to be for children who can go to mainstream schools. "It's great that they're moving towards inclusively, but there wasn't a lot said to address children with more complex needs and physical disabilities, like my son," she said.