Campaigners eye legal action over lack of funding for councils for disabled pupils

The families have formed a group, SEND Family Action, and instructed law firm Irwin Mitchell and barrister Stephen Broach of Monckton Chambers to investigate potential grounds for a claim. They have also set up a crowdfunding appeal in a bid to raise £5,000 towards the legal action.

News of the crowdfunding comes ahead of a High Court hearing next week (2 and 3 October) into the lawfulness of Surrey County Council’s proposals to cut spending on services for disabled children by £20m.

A case against the London Borough of Hackney over its plans is scheduled to start on 31 October and is listed for a two-day hearing.

Anne-Marie Irwin, Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Through our work in helping families of children with special educational needs we have seen the increasing strain local authorities are being placed under because of budget cuts.

“The issue of councils being able to fund specialist services is a growing problem with concern that an increasing number of local authorities are failing to meet their statutory responsibilities to disabled children.”

She added: “The families are concerned that local authorities are not receiving enough funding so wish to investigate whether there are legal grounds to challenge the government over its funding support.

“They believe that thousands of children across the UK with special educational needs are currently unable to receive the support that they need.”