Reform councils to cut SEN spending

[LookingForRecommendation]

.. according to the Lib Dem’s. Can they even do this? My DC isn’t SEN but her class has 5 TAs mainly as 121s and I dread what would happen if their funding is removed. Our council isn’t Reform led but they’re pretty neck on neck in no overall control.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/apr/24/ed-miliband-energy-pricing-keir-starmer-nigel-farage-latest-live-uk-politics-news

Using what? What if they’re already struggling on their income? Do they then need to claim extra PIP payments? How does that solve the issue for the taxpayer, exactly? PIP would just have to increase.

Even if it’s not a particularly high contribution, I think there should be some percentage covered by the parents, perhaps on a sliding scale.

What does everyone else do if they’re not getting by on their current income - they increase their hours, change jobs or make cut backs in other areas of their expenditure.

The default shouldn’t be “extra PIP payments” - it’s apparent that self reliance is heading straight out of the window.

So only children with wealthy parents are entitled to an education then?

i work as a TA, I would have to use my whole wage to pay for DS TA, let alone covering the rest of his package.

I think that’s what many want. Out of sight out of mind.

What does everyone else do if they’re not getting by on their current income - they increase their hours, change jobs or make cut backs in other areas of their expenditure.

Said by someone who clearly doesn’t have disabled DC.

And let’s not forget many parents of children with SEN are unable to work because of their children’s needs. Before getting my job I was out of work for 6 years to help support DS.

the only reason I can work now is because he has a proper system in place to support him

It’s unpopular for a reason.

So do you think parents with SEN children have the same opportunities as the average person to just change their jobs and hours and make cut backs if they have care responsibilities for a disabled child, do you? Hmm, not thinking this one through, are you? As per usual, simple solutions for complex problems.

I'll agree to that when adult children agree to contribute to their parents' pensions - the state pension is an unaffordable drain on the economy.

As always with far right ideology, if reform ever got into power, they would start by removing all rights eg. ECHR and the Equality Act 2010, then they would be saying any women with genetic disease or disability should be sterilised as it costs the taxpayer too much money for their care needs. Sounds ridiculous now, until it happens very, very slowly and they start to convince the electorate it’s a great idea, as they already have a lot of people feeling willing to give up their rights as it is. Classic boiling frog.

Many families of children with complex additional needs already have their work availability and family income restricted by the care needs of their children when not in school. Proposing that parents who are already struggling have to pay towards an education that other people's children can access for free is discriminatory.

To answer your question; I think, rightfully, standard education should be provided FOC by the state.

I think any additional, supplementary services (such as council provided transport or a 1:1 teaching assistant) should be paid for by the receiving family. These things aren’t free, and the cost has to be recouped from somewhere.

So what your basically saying is disabled children don’t deserve an education.

my Sons medications aren’t free - should I pay for them?

his tube feeds are expensive - should I pay for them?

where do we stop?

That really does mean that many disabled children would not recieve an education at all.

Where did I say disabled children don’t deserve an education? They are absolutely entitled to one, same as any other child. They go to school for free; again, like any other child.

But if that child happens to cost the local authority thousands in additional expenditure per month, I don’t feel it’s unreasonable or inappropriate to expect the parents to be contributing towards that bill.

my Sons medications aren’t free - should I pay for them?

Uh, yes… It’s your child? Who do you feel is responsible for paying for him?

So basically you’re happy to leave the disabled to die. At least you have played your hand early

I’m sorry but I don’t agree - even some sort of sliding scale (in the same way we pay tax etc) would be better than nothing.

@Cherry8809 thankfully, the law disagrees with your ignorant viewpoint.

Cherry is showing exactly the battle those with disablitles are facing. The sooner they die off the better at least the costs are gone hey!

What does everyone else do if they’re not getting by on their current income - they increase their hours, change jobs or make cut backs in other areas of their expenditure.

Tell me you don't have a disabled child without telling me you don't have a disabled child. 🙄

Err the NHS and Department of Education. We don’t live in the USA.

Most families can’t afford expensive meds and 121s in school.

All children deserve an education.

There are definitely some more liberal interpretations of the law to get a EHCP in some areas. It interpretation of law - it’s not an exact science! Law never is . In fact schools and LAs often don’t look at needs in the same way. Hence there are disagreements.

The schools are short of money because we have Sen bursting at the seams. Lots of dc don’t need transport to school. They certainly won’t get a special school place or even into a special unit. Parents pay £thousands for reports to get school money for their dc snd extra exam time. Schools know this but better exam results suit them.

Many dc didn’t get great jobs after leaving special schools because they were very very Sen. The same applies now. Many dc in mainstream will be ok. There isn’t more money so a rethink is overdue.

One of my son’s medications costs over £500 a month. Others aren’t as much but the price adds up. Those medications keep him alive.

the fact he has the right support in school means I can work again which I love. Without that support he would be out of school so I would be out of work.

if I am out of work I am intrigued how I am meant to fund £1000 plus a month worth of medication and then his other therapy

I’m not sure why you’re jumped straight to medication and tube feeds, when the subject in hand was supplementary assistance within education.

Theres quite the difference between funding life saving medication and sending a child to school in a council paid taxi.

You’re the one who said I should be paying for his medicine!