MP asks for local headteachers’ support in battle to improve special needs funding

Local MP Tim Farron has sent a survey to every headteacher in his constituency asking for their thoughts on what needs to be done to change the funding system for children with special educational needs.

Last month in the House of Commons, Tim urged the Education Secretary to change its policy of making schools pay the first £6,000 of the cost of supporting children with special needs.

Since then, Tim has been inundated with letters and messages on social media from teachers from the country saying that they feel they are being punished by the Government for accepting children with special educational needs.

Tim said: "Surely it can't be right that head teachers are left in a situation where the more pupils they have with special needs, the worse it is financially for their school.

"We all want our kids to have the best start in life, but those children with special needs are having that chance taken away as a result of the current system.

"My aim from this survey is to gain a better understanding of the precise issues of special educational needs funding so I have all the tools to be able to push the Government to change the situation for both teachers and those children who need the most help at school."