Special needs and disability funds in critical low

As reported by The Guardian, children are being left without the support they need due to Send underfunding

There has been a 75% increase in complaints surrounding special needs education in the past four years.

The Send system which is meant to support children with special needs or disabilities has endured severe lack of funds and resources. Councils have accounted for staggering loss in their Send funds causing young people to lack the support they vitally need.

In Suffolk, Steve Wright has put forth endless complaints to the council for his 14-year old son, Jack. Jack transitioned through 5 schools in 5 years without the support that the council was legally required to provide him with.

‘His EHCP provision has never been provided,’ says Wright. Jack has also been victim of school bullying and received no speech therapy for over two years.

“We are putting unprecedented investment into the high needs budget and helping councils target this funding more effectively so that young people in their area get support promptly,” says a spokesperson for the Department for Education.