Councils are telling parents they will no longer specify one-to-one support in an education, health and care plan (EHCP), says a charity.
SOS SEN says councils are telling families they they will instead specify one-to-one support in “separate documents”.
Milly and Nate Courtney, whose dad Alan had to battle Sutton Council to get them to specify one-to-one support in their EHCPs
But the practice is “blatantly unlawful”, says the charity. Councils should detail support in an EHCP.
Unlawful EHCP practice is ‘widespread’
Eleanor Wright is the chief executive of SOS SEN.
She said anecdotal evidence is that the practice is “quite widespread”.
Wright said “a lot of local authorities are doing this”.
She said the local authorities avoid specifying the level of support needed in an EHCP because it’s a legally binding document.
Families can hold councils to account and take them to court if they fail to provide support specified in an EHCP.
Wright said councils are ready to “throw children under the bus” rather than spend money helping them.
A parent’s experience
One parent who says his family fell victim to money saving over one-to-one support is laboratory scientist Alan Courtney.
He said Sutton Council tried to avoid committing to one-to-one support for his children Milly, six, and Nate, eight.
Both have autism. Milly also has the rare neuromuscular condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth 4J.
Courtney, 42, from London, said the council told him it did not want to specify one-to-one support because the school needed “flexibility”.
He said the council caved in when he threatened to go to the media and a tribunal over the issue.
Autism Eye contacted the Local Government Association, which said it was a matter for individual councils.
Autism Eye also contacted Sutton Council, but it did not respond.
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- Councils told to meet educational duties
- Ombudsman slams mental health care
- Ombudsman slams council’s behaviour
- Councils warned not to delay EHC plans
- Parents urged to fight for therapy
Published: 16 October 2021
