BBC EastEnders star praised for opening up on battle to secure education for autistic son
EastEnders actress Kellie Bright has been flooded with support after opening up about the battle some parents face when trying to secure education for children with autism
Kellie Bright has been flooded with support after opening up about the battle some parents face when trying to secure education for children with autism
EastEnders legend Kellie Bright has won widespread admiration from Panorama audiences after courageously sharing her struggles to secure proper education for her autistic child.
The 49-year-old actress, beloved for her portrayal of Linda Carter on the BBC One drama, has laid bare her anguish and exasperation whilst battling to obtain appropriate assistance for her son with autism.
Kellie’s son Charis has received dianogsis of Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia, yet despite these conditions, she has encountered significant obstacles in obtaining an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) for him, which would guarantee him additional educational support.
Determined to utilise her celebrity status to highlight this crucial issue, Kellie has created a Panorama documentary that explores the draining and costly struggle parents endure simply to secure adequate assistance for their children in educational settings.
“I’ve wanted to make a documentary about special needs for a really long time. I have a son, he is autistic, he has ADHD and he’s dyslexic. To try and get the support you need you have to fight every step of the way”, she courageously revealed to cameras, reports OK!.
Kellie’s son Charis has received diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia
“I hear from lots and lots of families how the system is broken, how things need to change so I want to shine a light on it, I want to speak to families who are suffering. I am very fortunate to be in a position because of my job that I do have a voice, I do have a platform and I want to use it.”
Schools in England do offer some support to these students, but parents who believe their child requires additional assistance can apply to their local council for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
An EHCP is a vital document as it’s legally binding, stipulates the school a child should attend, and outlines the level of extra support they should receive.
The EastEnders actress delivered a power episode of Panorama on Monday evening(Image: BBC)
Kellie revealed that when she attempted to secure an EHCP for her son, she “ended up heading for a tribunal because they refused to assess him.”
She continued: “I have to say that left me feeling really angry, and then I felt frustrated and then I felt like I was letting my son down. I suddenly got an email saying ‘we have agreed to assess your son.”
Kellie confirmed that her son now has a plan in place, stating: “We have had a good EHCP in place for a good couple of years. I have to say the school has been really brilliant and they are supporting my son in the best way they can.
“But on paper, what is written on my son’s EHCP is not being fully delivered at school, and I don’t blame the school for that. I know it’s about funding, I know it’s about lack of resources.”
The TV personality opened up about her own experience with having an autistic child(Image: BBC)
Kellie concluded by confirming that her son is very happy, which she considers to be the most important thing.
Panorama viewers heaped praise on Kellie’s documentary, with one fan posting on X: “Well done to Kellie Bright, for using her platform to highlight the level of negligence shown to SEND children and their families. The fighting that parents have to do for their children to access an education is a huge failure of councils and the government. #Panorama.”
Another gushed: “I love Kellie Bright using her voice and platform like this”, whilst a third shared their personal battle: “Watching Panorama. Thank you Kellie Bright for highlighting the failures regards SEND children. I’ve fought for 4 years against our council and won a few times. All those parents struggling do no give up. Reach out. Keep fighting don’t let them win. #Panorama.”
Kellie plays Linda Carter in EastEnders(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
One particularly moving response came from a parent who courageously revealed: “This is a tough watch. I feel seen. This is basically mine and my wife’s life. People have absolutely no idea how hard and exhausting it is #panorama”.
The government is currently overhauling the Special Educational Needs system, which mums and dads claim is letting down their youngsters despite gobbling up £12 billion annually.