Growth, growth, growth is all we hear about...I'm concerned for a planet which has finite resources

Ecologist and activist Chris Packham is 'disappointed' with the way the Labour Government has treated the environment, and believes sustainability must now be at the heart of all its policies. However, wearing another hat, his personal experience of school is driving his latest mission...

- By Steph Spyro

CHRIS PACKHAM has pledged to “fight like hell” - including threatening the Government with legal action if it cuts extra support in schools for children with special needs. Full details of the proposed changes are due in October, but while insisting no decisions have been taken, Labour ministers have not ruled out scrapping the “education, health and care plans”.

An EHCP is a legally binding document which ensures a child or young person with special or educational needs in England gets the right support from a local authority.

Chris is part of a high-profile campaign group, including actresses Jane Asher and Sally Phillips, and presenter Carrie Grant, which is urging the Government not to remove a child's right to an EHCP.

Speaking to the Sunday Express, the naturalist told how he had a bad time at school and now realises he needed more support.

The Springwatch presenter, who is 64, was diagnosed with autism aged 44. He said: "I've got 10 legal cases running. Some are investigative at this stage, but it's going to expand, because frankly if they try to take these EHCPs away... I had a really s*** time in school. I needed support with the benefit of hindsight.

“We put a system in place where young people should be getting that support, that legal right to essential protection.

“I've always said that the 'p' in that stance should stand for protection as well as plan.

“And if it's taken away then I'll fight like hell for that, of course I will. Local authorities are being really pushed because it is expensive to protect and educate those people in the way they need to be educated. But they have a fundamental right to education so somewhere we've got to find that money.”