MP presents bill to Parliament calling for more funding support for children with special educational needs

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has presented a bill to Parliament calling for much greater funding support for local schools after it was revealed that special educational needs funding in the North West has been slashed by 24% over the past 5 years.

A recent report released today by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that our region has been the hardest hit by the cuts, with funding reduced by 17% nationally.

The IPPR say that the current funding settlement for schools and colleges is "nowhere near enough" to provide the support that children and young people with special educational needs both need and deserve, with the author of the report describing the situation as a 'moral failure'.

This comes after 16 headteachers sent letters to parents in Kendal saying that budget cuts means they've had to make cuts to 'support for the most vulnerable pupils' and 'small group work for children who need additional support'.

Tim said: "This is nothing short of irresponsible and heartless from the Government.

"Children with special educational needs have enormous potential and so to cut the support they need from an early age is also incredibly stupid.

"It's utterly depressing that instead of looking at how they can fix this funding crisis that they've created themselves, all the Conservatives are focused on at the moment is fighting each other.

"Our young people deserve better than this."