By Gavin Mackintosh-
The British government is facing a wave of legal challenges over its disability funding cuts. Councils around the Uk are also being taken to court because of plans to slash services to special educational needs children(SEND), in what is building up to be a major clash.
Families representing two boys with special educational needs under the campaign SEND Family Action are crowdfunding a legal challenge against education secretary Damian Hinds and chancellor Philip Hammond over SEND budget cuts.
The parents, from North Yorkshire and East Sussex, are blaming the limitation of government grants in rendering councils unable to fulfill their legal obligations to pupils with disabilities. The Eye Of Media.Com has heard that Surrey council is under a judicial review in the High Court over planned cuts of £20 million from services for disabled pupils next month.
Hackney council is also being taken to the High court next month over its special educational needs budget . The legal battles multiple councils are facing flies in the face of recent news of the British government’s announcement to inject millions of pounds into schools.
Those financial pledges were meant to improve academic standards for pupils without disability, increasing teachers wages and widening facilities in schools that contribute to broadening the educational experience of pupils. It will appear the huge funding was not meant to include those with disabilities
In a landmark case last month, the High Court ruled against three mothers who challenged Bristol council over £5 million of planned cuts to their SEND budget. Bristol Council was then forced to reverse its decision. In another case, a 15 year old pupil, Nico Heugh who suffers from autism and anxiety was refused specialist education care by East Sussex council, who refused to cover all costs, arguing his school should fund the shortfall.
A Department for Education spokesperson said it recognized increasing costs are putting “pressures on high needs budgets”. But it said core funding for schools is increasing £43.5 billion by 2020 – 50 per cent more per pupil in real terms than in 2000.