The Conservatives running Surrey County Council have launched a consultation on plans to cut school funding for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

They plan to abolish the “additional SEN funding” which goes to 67 primary and 2 secondary schools in Surrey.  Beaufort, Goldsworth, St Hugh of Lincoln, West Byfleet Infant and West Byfleet Junior Schools in Woking would all be hit by the changes.

These schools either have a large number of pupils with SEN, or a small budget.  Under this proposal they will no longer receive up to £6,000 per SEN pupil, leaving a huge hole in their budgets.

The Lib Dems and I are appalled that the County Council is thinking of cutting support they give to vulnerable children.  The funding for SEN pupils is a tiny amount compared with the Council’s overall spending, but this cut could have a huge impact on children with special educational needs.

This is the worst possible time to cut funding to schools that will damage the education of all pupils, but especially vulnerable children, and hamper the ability of teachers to bring out the best in the next generation.