Agenda item

To be moved by Councillor Tarmey and seconded by Councillor A Carter.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (10) a period of no more than 90 minutes was permitted for the discussion of Notices of Motion. As consideration of this motion was after the 90 minute time limit, it was, in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 (11) moved, seconded and voted on without debate.

It was moved by Councillor Tarmey and seconded by Councillor A. Carter that:

This Council notes:

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system is under severe strain, with some families struggling to secure vital support. Children with SEND deserve the same opportunities as every child, including access to the support they need to thrive.

In December 2024 the Government introduced the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, with the overall of better protecting children and raising standards in education. The Government also announced £740 million in new funding to support students with special educational needs and disabilities, and those needing alternative education within mainstream schools. Inclusion remains the overarching policy, so that as many our children and young people as possible are educated together with their peers in their own community.

Research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that private equity–backed SEND providers are making over £100 million a year in profits, with some achieving margins of over 20%. Many of these companies are backed by firms registered in tax havens or foreign sovereign wealth funds.

Meanwhile, councils across the country face spiralling costs, severe budget pressures, and in some cases effective bankruptcy - leading to the reduction or withdrawal of vital services for vulnerable groups.

This Council welcomes:

1.    Government action to curb profiteering in children’s social care. Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, it has introduced powers to cap the profits of providers of illegal or exploitative children’s homes, alongside enhancing financial transparency and greater enforcement by Ofsted.

2.    The Government review of the SEND and Alternative Provision systems.

This Council believes:

1.    Whilst there is potentially a role for some independent or private provision – profiteering from the needs of children with SEND is unacceptable and must end.

2.    Children with SEND are not commodities for profit and should never be treated as such.

3.    Resources must be directed into improving provision and outcomes for children, not into shareholder dividends or inflated executive pay.

4.    Local authorities should be supported to provide sustainable, high-quality inclusive SEND provision within both their mainstream and specialist settings; including by building and operating their own schools to accommodate those with the most complex needs if necessary.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1.    Call on the Government to eradicate profiteering by private SEND providers, including consideration of sanctions against providers, where necessary.

2.    Support further reforms to boost the SEND system, including strong financial oversight of providers, transparency, and new powers and funding for councils to build and manage local mainstream and specialist provision directly.

3.    Endorse the principle that SEND reforms must put children first - not corporate greed.

4.    Request group leaders to write to the Secretary of State for Education to ask that action is taken in line with the above.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried.