EDUCASHUN NEWZ
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AN IMMINENT government white paper will seek to mend England’s broken special education needs system before spiralling costs drive councils off a financial cliff edge. But experts, families, campaigners and MPs are warning that any attempt to cut budgets without addressing causes of the crisis – which already results in children missing out on school – will trigger protest in Westminster and beyond.
The greatest concern for many is a mooted potential raid on education, health and care plans (EHCPs), legally protected council-funded top-up packages of bespoke support for children whose needs cannot otherwise be met. They are expensive, but often the only way parents and schools can get the specialist interventions needed to keep struggling children in school.