A national agency should be set up to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Sir Ed Davey has said.
The new national body proposed by the Liberal Democrats would pay any support costs above a certain threshold, which the party says would end a “postcode lottery” of provision.
The extra funding would be determined by the child’s needs, with the new body also ensuring all SEND money is spent as effectively as possible.
The Liberal Democrats have also called for schools to be expected to spend less from their own budgets on meeting the needs of pupils with high needs.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed, who is a carer for his disabled son, will launch the new policy on Monday during a visit to a charity in Essex.
Before the visit, Sir Ed said: “Parents of children with special educational needs across the UK are facing a postcode lottery.
“The Conservative government has woefully underfunded both schools and local authorities, meaning that many parents simply can’t get their children the support they deserve.
“That is unacceptable. No child, or their family, should have to wait so long or fight so hard to have their needs met.
“That’s why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a new national body for SEND, to make sure children with the very highest needs are properly supported.”
Reduce amount schools pay from own budgets
Sir Ed also called for the government to cut the amount that schools are expected to pay towards the cost of a child’s additional SEND support - currently set at £6,000 per child.
Mainstream schools have a notional budget to spend on SEND within their overall budget allocation.
Mainstream schools are expected to use this budget to contribute towards the costs of special educational provision for pupils with high needs - up to the “high needs cost threshold”, which is currently £6,000 per pupil per year.
The Lib Dems claimed that lowering the amount schools are expected to find from their existing budget would help to remove a financial disincentive that it said stops schools from identifying pupils’ needs as early as possible.
Sir Ed added: “We are facing twin crises in funding for special educational needs and local government, and it’s clear that Conservative ministers can’t get a grip on either.
“Urgent action is needed to ensure that all children can access the tailored learning and support they need.”
Dr Nic Crossley, chief executive of Liberty Academy Trust, which runs three special schools, said that while she was pleased to see SEND in the political discussion, she was “not convinced” that a SEND agency would solve anything - not least because of how long it would take to create one.
“What special education really needs is cross-party consensus, which goes stronger than an all-party parliamentary group and which ensures that the national priority for SEND is shared, and not derailed with a change of leadership,” she said.
“Sadly too often we see that every time there is a change of government, initiatives designed to support SEND are either ignored or paused while the incoming party reviews and reshapes plans, and makes promises that will take years to materialise.
“Our children don’t have years - they need and deserve the support now.”
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