IPSEA joins local schools to fight unfair SEN Funding Scheme

IPSEA and the Downs Syndrome Association (DSA) have backed a group of schools in Northumberland in their complaint to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding a local delegated schools funding scheme. That scheme is causing huge inequalities in the amount of money getting through to schools to help children with Statements of Special Educational Needs in Northumberland. The complaint:

• Requests reform of a delegated funding scheme which has already resulted in a deficit of £0.8 million in the SEN budgets of the four schools involved;
• Asks the Secretary of State to direct changes to Northumberland s current SEN Policy which could mislead parents about their children s entitlement to SEN assessments and statements.

Roger Inman, IPSEA’s Chief Executive, comments:

We are very concerned that Northumberland and other Local Authorities are seeking to accelerate the process of delegating both their duties and funding in relation to SEN to schools. It is unlawful and irresponsible for Local Authorities to delegate their legal duties to assess and arrange provision for our most vulnerable children until schools are sufficiently resourced to perform them. This is causing disastrous results for schools and pupils alike and is undermining rather than enhancing inclusion of children with SEN. We are receiving an increasing number of examples of this Local Authority approach from our casework, and we call on the Secretary of State to give firm leadership to Local Authorities and ensure that they meet their obligations under the law and provide effective inclusion for children with SEN.

Find out more about what you can do about Local Authority delegated SEN funding schemes in our briefing note (download as PDF file).

Download the complaint sent to the Secretary of State (PDF file):

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Download the briefing note for parents and schools in a simialr situation (PDF file):

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