Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Funding Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Funding

Tim Farron Excerpts
Tuesday 12th February 2019

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Vince Cable Portrait Sir Vince Cable
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Indeed. That is happening on a growing scale, and is augmented by the fact that many children are being excluded because of the lack of support. That, in turn, contributes to home education, which may be inferior.

Tim Farron Portrait Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD)
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that the crisis in funding is about not only the overall sum of money but the distribution? Government policy means that schools have to absorb up to £11,000 of the cost of meeting an EHCP. Schools that do the right thing and accept children with special educational needs are therefore punished, and those that do not are rewarded. Does he agree that that is an unfair and wrong distribution?

Vince Cable Portrait Sir Vince Cable
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Indeed. In addition to the problem facing local authorities, schools in effect pay a £6,000 penalty. Many schools that were committed to inclusion now find that increasingly difficult and are shying away from their obligations.