'Young people's futures are being blighted by genuine special educational needs funding crisis', High Court told

By Ben Barnett
Published 26th Jun 2019, 21:34 BST
Campaigners gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of the landmark legal challenge against the Government over special educational needs funding. Picture by Sian Harrison/PA Wire.Campaigners gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of the landmark legal challenge against the Government over special educational needs funding. Picture by Sian Harrison/PA Wire.
Campaigners gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of the landmark legal challenge against the Government over special educational needs funding. Picture by Sian Harrison/PA Wire.
The Government is putting the lives of young people with special educational needs at risk of being blighted forever because they have created a “genuine crisis” in funding, a landmark case in the High Court has heard.

'So many families are desperate to know that their children will be able to get the support they require to access an education'

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Lawyers representing three families, including the mother of 14-year-old Benedict McFinnigan from Scarborough, claimed that funding to support those with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) was “manifestly insufficient”, in a case brought against Chancellor Philip Hammond and Education Secretary Damian Hinds.

'Critical under-funding'

Jenni Richards QC told the hearing, which continues tomorrow, that there was “clear and incontrovertible evidence” of a “substantial national shortfall” in funding.

“The evidence strongly supports the contention that there is a genuine crisis in Send funding,” Ms Richards said in her written submissions. “Importantly, it is not the case that the shortfalls in funding are currently being absorbed by local authorities with relatively little impact on front-line provision.

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