Starmer gets SOS from council over ‘crisis’ in special needs education

Wigan Council is appealing for help from the new government over a “crisis” in special needs education affecting around 10,000 families in the borough. The authority is writing to Sir Keir Starmer’s administration just weeks after the general election over the £5.6m overspend in its “high needs” budget.

The full city council was told the alarming results of a survey of parents of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). A motion by Councilor Gena Merrett, Chair of Wigan’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee, was carried.

It said: “This council asks that we write to the new government as soon as possible highlighting the current crisis councils face in meeting the increased demand for SEND provision and seeking an increase in the high needs budget.”

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The Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on councils to work with their partners to identify and assess the special educational needs and disabilities of children and young people. Coun Merritt told colleagues: “In short, the significant increase in demands for SEND provision, Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and specialist education provision is putting unsustainable financial pressures on council funding and staff, leading to delays for some. children and families in receiving diagnoses of need and support. Wigan are not alone in facing this crisis. It is a national image.

“Over the past five years, requests for assessments of the EHC (education and health care) needs of children and young people have increased by 94% and the number of EHC plans the Council maintains has also increased by 76% since 2018. ” According to a survey presented to the children and young people’s scrutiny committee last week, Wigan has a SEND population of around 10,000.

Only 3 pieces – about 300 – of those who answered the survey, but its results were alarming. About 111 had a child with EHCP, while 54 were trying to get one. Twenty-four children or young people were refused a plan.

Meanwhile, 198 children are known to health services and 201 attend a mainstream school. Almost half of the young people – 47% – had autism. Two-thirds of parents expressed frustration at the lack of responsiveness to their child’s needs from schools, saying their needs were not identified and assessed until later in their child’s school journey.

The survey said: “53% of parents agreed that professionals worked well together to meet their children’s needs either always, mostly or sometimes, and 63% were aware of some or most of the services provided in Wigan. However, too many parents reported that the professionals did not work well together.”

However, many parents who responded to the survey highlighted their positive experiences at certain local organizations and clubs which cater for children with SEND, including Wigan Youth Zone, Leigh Hub, Leisure for All and Brighter Dayz. These organizations have been praised for their inclusiveness and ability to engage children in a supportive environment.

After the council meeting, Coun Merrett told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We are not holding back just because we are a Labor council and we now have a Labor government. The need for increased SEND resources is urgent for us to meet our legal and moral obligations.”