Vikki Slade, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, has backed her party’s policy for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision to be designated as Critical National Infrastructure, warning that vulnerable children must not be treated as “cash cows” by offshore investors.
The intervention comes ahead of the Government’s forthcoming SEND White Paper.
Mrs Slade is backing proposals that would formally classify SEND provision alongside essential services such as energy, transport and water.
The plans would also make acquisitions of SEND providers subject to public interest tests under the Enterprise Act, giving ministers greater powers to intervene where deals risk prioritising profit over children’s wellbeing.
Mrs Slade added that SEND education has been a key priority since her maiden speech in Parliament.
She has repeatedly raised concerns about ‘excessive fees’ charged to councils by some independent providers.
She said: “After enquiries with local councils, I established that independent special schools are charging three to four times more than maintained (government-funded) special schools, with 78 children in placements costing in excess of £100,000 per year.
“Some children need highly specialised provision, but many can receive an excellent education and support in council-run specialist schools.”
Over the past decade, private companies, including large overseas investment funds, have bought up increasing numbers of SEND schools and services.
Mrs Slade added: “The suggestion that profit, and worse, profit going overseas, is driving the costs in some SEND settings, as well as in homes for children in care, is very worrying and the Government should take action to outlaw it.
“Making SEND provision Critical National Infrastructure is an interesting way to ensure the public interest is served and to reduce the risk of councils going bankrupt under the extreme costs of SEND provision.”
She added that in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, the rising cost of SEND has already had ‘serious consequences’.
Mrs Slade said: “BCP Council has been forced to increase council tax above the referendum threshold because of the cost of servicing the SEND deficit.
“We must find solutions that protect council services and put our vulnerable children first.”