Campaigners slam government plans to slash special education needs projects by a fifth
CAMPAIGNERS have hit out at government plans to slash special educational needs projects by a fifth.
The Department for Education has drawn up a document urging councils to cut spending by at least 20 per cent.
This is despite ministers telling MPs there was no reduction target.
The Sun has been running its Give It Back campaign to stop funding cuts.
Councils are already struggling with increased demand for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) programmes and tight budgets.
Campaigners say the government plans will result in children’s education being “sacrificed to balance the books”.
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The DfE signed a £19.5million contract last June with consultancy firm Newton Europe to deliver the cuts.
Gillian Doherty of campaign group Send Action hit out: “This is irresponsible.
“Aside from potential legal implications, it will simply push the funding problem down on to schools, which are in a state of financial crisis."
Stephen Kingdom, the Campaign Manager for the Disabled Children’s Partnership, added: “When the Government published its plans for SEND last year, the greatest concern was that they were focused more on saving money than supporting children and families. These reports appear to confirm that.
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“Parents already face massive battles to get the help their children need and are entitled to Families will despair that it is going to get even harder.
"Without early support we know the cost of intervention becomes more expensive as a young person grows older.
“No child’s education, care and wellbeing should be sacrificed to balance the books.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “It is completely wrong to suggest that the Department is withdrawing support for children and young people with SEND.
"Local authorities have not received any targets relating to EHCP reduction through the Delivering Better Value Programme.
"The Department's Improvement Plan sets out how we will reform the support system for children with SEND, creating consistent high standards across the country, and making sure parents do not have to battle for support."