Parents claim education system is failing 'lost generation' of special needs children
Click below to watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Serena Sandhu
Parents across the East have spoken out against the education system - claiming it is failing a 'lost generation' of children with special educational needs.
It's after a poll by the National Education Union revealed more than 40% of children over the age of four are not in full time school.
It also found that half of parents aren't happy about provision and nearly three-quarters believe they aren't given adequate support to help their child.
Michelle White's son Alex was 13 before his needs were met in the classroom, despite being diagnosed when he was six. She had to fight and win a tribunal to secure a place in a specialist school.
Michelle, from Northamptonshire, says her son is part of a "lost generation" of special needs children who are being left behind.
Rebecca Vasey, from Thetford in Norfolk, now teaches her daughter Natasha at home after she struggled in mainstream school and threatened to take her own life.
She's still fighting for a diagnosis to reflect her complex needs.
The Department for Education says it's launched a review in school exclusions - but insists that funding is not the problem.
Click below to watch the second part of Serena Sandhu's Special Education reports
For more advice and support on special educational needs visit:
Sossen: The Independent Helpline for Special Education Needs