Top of page
Education and Employment

‘Unlawful practices and buck passing’ over educational needs

Sister and brother with disability drawing

UK – Parents seeking support for children with educational needs face unlawful practices, buck passing and a “treacle of bureaucracy”, MPs say.

The Commons Education Committee said the government had set councils up to fail by upping parents’ expectations while cutting council budgets overall.

Already stretched families were being torn apart, its report said, as they fought for their children’s rights in schools, with councils and in tribunal.

Ministers say they are boosting funds. The government has also commissioned a “root and branch” review of the system. The committee found a generation of children and young people were not being given the support they deserved, branding the situation a “major social injustice”.

The MPs said they had heard overwhelming evidence changes to the system, introduced from 2014, were letting young people down day after day.

Five years on, Robert Halfon, who chairs the committee, said: “Many parents face a titanic struggle just to try and ensure their child get access to the right support.

“Families are often forced to wade through a treacle of bureaucracy, in a system which breeds conflict and despair as parents try to navigate a postcode lottery of provision.

You might also like

doctor with a patient doctor with a patient

NHS collaborates to create sensory-friendly GP surgeries for autistic patients

The National Health Service (NHS) has partnered with a group…

Sad lonely woman sitting at desk at home and thinking Sad lonely woman sitting at desk at home and thinking

UK launches fund to tackle loneliness and boost volunteering

Youth clubs, mental health charities and social enterprises are among…

cropped shot of nurse taking blood sample of patient with syringe cropped shot of nurse taking blood sample of patient with syringe

People with learning disabilities urged to book free annual health check

People aged 14 and over with a learning disability in…

from left Ganga Fraser and Clement Ng from left Ganga Fraser and Clement Ng

Calling all passionate people – Churchill Fellowships open today

Churchill Fellowships for 2023 open today and people are invited…