SEND legal ‘lifeline’ under threat in Birmingham

NEU members were among 80 protestors who demonstrated outside Birmingham City Council in January against plans to reform – and potentially outsource – an advocacy and legal advice service for parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS), which is funded by the council and supports families to challenge decisions about their child’s education or care, has been described as a “lifeline” by parents.

But they are concerned that a Government commissioner sent in to overhaul the council’s SEND provision, after parts of it failed two Ofsted inspections, plans to cut SENDIASS.

Kate Taylor, an NEU rep and primary school teacher, whose son is autistic, said that while parents have been told the service will not be reduced, many in the process of mounting legal challenges have received emails saying their caseworker has left.

Kate told Educate that she had been supported by SENDIASS to challenge a decision over her 20-year-old son’s college place.

“It would have been impossible to legally challenge the council without SENDIASS. I know of people who have had to remortgage their homes to fund cases. The legal fees can run into tens of thousands of pounds,” she said.

Kate added that with the help of the service she had been able to secure a place for her son at a college that fully meets his needs.

“He is much happier and more confident, and is being helped to develop socially,” she said. “He is even developing independent skills by getting the bus and is now thinking about maybe having his own place to live. He’s looking to the future.”

Around 500 children with SEND in Birmingham are not in school or only have a part-time place, she added.