Lib Dems set out plans to stop SEND services being 'cash cows'

"PA Media The Liberal Democrats have called for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services in England to be designated as critical national infrastructure to stop vulnerable children being treated as "cash cows" by private investors. Council spending on SEND - support for children who need extra help because of a disability or learning difficulty - has soared in recent years, while private companies have increasingly bought up schools and services."

"The Lib Dems said their proposals would give the government more powers to scrutinise acquisitions of SEND providers and ensure deals are in the public interest. The government is expected to set out its plans to reform the system next week. It has already announced that there will be new national standards and price bands for independent providers. The Department for Education said this would end fee variation and give councils the confidence to challenge poor value placements."

"It has not set out the level of these bands but reports have suggested there could be a cap of 60,000 a year. If schools do not comply with the bands they will not be able to take on state-funded pupils. Ministers have also expressed a desire for more children to be supported within mainstream schools. Independent special schools charge an average of 63,000 per child per year, more than twice the 26,000 cost of a state special school."

The Liberal Democrats propose designating SEND services as critical national infrastructure to protect vulnerable children from private investor exploitation. The proposals would give the government greater powers to scrutinise and intervene in acquisitions of SEND providers, including subjecting deals to public interest tests under the Enterprise Act. The government plans new national standards and price bands for independent providers, intended to end fee variation and help councils challenge poor value placements, with reports suggesting a possible cap of 60,000 a year. Independent special schools cost an average of 63,000 per child annually, are often privately backed, and ministers want more support delivered in mainstream schools.

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