Birmingham Families Face Uphill Battle Amid SEND Support Cuts and Appeals

Birmingham families face a SEND crisis intensified by council budget cuts, struggling for support and battling lengthy appeals for vital services like transport.

In Birmingham, families are facing significant challenges due to a crisis surrounding support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

These difficulties have only been intensified by recent cuts to council budgets.

Personal Stories of Struggle

Paul McAnenny’s experience is emblematic of the struggles many parents endure.

To help cover the costs of transporting his three-year-old son, Tommy—who has Charge syndrome and hearing loss—to a specialized school across town, he set up an online fundraiser.

Each day, the journey involves a tiring 90-minute round trip, on top of his responsibilities for his two older daughters.

Tommy recently received an education health and care plan (EHCP), which granted him a place at a school tailored to his needs.

However, promising news quickly turned sour when McAnenny learned that the local council would no longer be subsidizing transportation as part of their budget-cutting measures.

The financial strain has been heavy on his family, adding an extra £160 monthly just for fuel.

Though McAnenny began working part-time to alleviate some costs, the challenge of balancing work with caregiving is far from easy.

Meanwhile, appeals to the council remain unresolved, leaving them caught in a lengthy waiting game.

Systemic Issues Amplified

McAnenny’s story is one of many that illustrate the broader issues faced by families in financially constrained areas.

As local authorities grapple with fiscal challenges, SEND services often bear the brunt of budget cuts, causing parents to embark on protracted appeals and tribunal processes to secure necessary support for their children.

Indeed, in Birmingham, the number of tribunal cases related to SEND disputes rose alarmingly, climbing from 291 in 2020 to 525 by 2022.

Notably, the council has won only 3.7% of these cases.

Between 2014 and 2021, Birmingham reportedly spent around £10 million fighting against SEND appeals, showcasing the scale of the crisis.

Sabiha Aziz, a devoted advocate for SEND issues in Birmingham, pointed out the dire consequences of the exhausting and often fruitless processes families endure.

She emphasized that children who lack access to adequate education frequently resort to negative behaviors, which in turn creates further societal strain.

Challenges and Advocacy

Aziz has first-hand experience with the tribunal system after advocating for her son Adam, who has multiple disabilities, including severe learning difficulties and epilepsy.

She managed to secure continued funding for Adam’s transport, which was at risk of being cut due to his age.

Despite achieving this victory, Aziz reflected on the overwhelming stress that absorbing so much of her time and energy brought during what should have been precious moments with her son.

The size of Birmingham, as the largest local authority in the UK, adds complexity to managing SEND services, especially amidst financial constraints.

In the current academic year, more than 14% of schoolchildren in Birmingham require SEND support, a rate that surpasses the national average.

Over 8,500 pupils in the area hold EHCPs.

Government inspections in 2021 highlighted several shortcomings in the council’s SEND provisions, leading to unprecedented intervention.

Aziz noted that Birmingham’s sheer size accentuates the challenges faced, amplifying the impact of national issues at the local level.

Ellie Partridge, alongside her husband Matt, shared their own taxing experience while navigating the appeals process for their son, Frank, who has autism and developmental delays.

They encountered numerous hurdles, from the need to hire an advocate to assemble extensive documentation.

Ultimately, they secured a favorable ruling, but even this came with the added stress of struggling to arrange transport for Frank, particularly since they lacked a personal vehicle.

As the Partridges continue to fight for transport funding for Tommy, they are acutely aware of the ongoing challenges.

They are currently waiting for a stage 2 appeal, supported by the National Deaf Children’s Society, which has reported a staggering 44% increase in active tribunal cases.

Sue Harrison, Birmingham city council’s strategic director for children and families, acknowledged the systemic issues within the national SEND framework.

She noted that the council is working diligently to implement improvements while addressing the growing challenges presented by long waiting lists for tribunals.

Despite reductions in transport support for those beyond compulsory school age, the council is committed to offering discretionary assistance for families to make their own transportation arrangements.

In summary, the ongoing struggles faced by families in Birmingham underline critical deficiencies in support for children with SEND.

As financial pressures mount, these challenges only deepen the burden on families already trying to navigate a strained system.

Source: The guardian