'This government is going to be dangerous to disabled people'

FEARS THAT REFORMS WILL END STATUTORY SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

- By LOUIS CORBETT

PARENTS, charities and politicians have shared their fears over rumours Downing Street plans to scrap a key component of its statutory support for more than 600,000 disabled children across the UK.

No proposals have yet been confirmed, but ministers have expressed dismay at Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s plans to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.

For years, SEND has been a costly issue for local and central government alike. Councils struggle to fund the ever-increasing bill, and the government hesitates to change a system that is widely seen as failing all parties involved.

The number of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) has doubled since 2016, with more than 600,000 children currently holding a plan for their statutory support.

The plans are notoriously hard to acquire, with parents often having to battle for years with their local authorities. Some end up in a tribunal to access their child’s legal rights.

But murmurs from Whitehall that EHCPs may be scrapped, have added to parents’ anxieties.

Ashleigh Drew, 52, of Bishop Cropwell, fought in tribunals for years to acquire her three children’s EHCPs.

She said: “This government is going to be dangerous for disabled people. Their proposals are that mainstream schools can be inclusive.