If you are one of those millions of citizens with a disabled or neurodivergent child in your family, be afraid. Be very afraid. And if you care at all about living in a decent society, you should share that fear. For our Labour Government, elected to restore faith in public services, seems intent on shredding the rights of vulnerable young people to secure a decent start in life, and shattering the hopes of parents.

Any day now we will see ministers finally unveil reforms of the special educational needs (SEND) system, driven by Treasury demands to slash rising costs. And just as with their bungled Budget last year, they are preparing the ground by dripping a stream of stories into the media to soften up voters in advance of their announcement.

Last week, this newspaper disclosed that many parents wanting an education, health and care plan (EHCP) for their child might be blocked from appealing to a tribunal if rebuffed by local authorities. This is a shocking proposal. These crucial, legally-binding documents set out needs, annual targets and provision – and in 99 percent of cases, tribunals rule in favour of the family. This exposes the giant scale of systemic failure in a horribly adversarial, bureaucratic system that grinds down tired and frightened families. I know this from the experience of confronting it while struggling to cope with our daughter’s profound disabilities. 

Yet the solution, declared one macho Westminster source, is to “cut the tribunal off at the knees” by only allowing appeals if the correct process has not been followed.

Think........

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