Some pupils are being unnecessarily ‘sucked in’ to the SEND system and aren’t fully prepared for the ‘adult world’, councillor argues

Coun Ian Carrington (Conservative – Potterhanworth and Coleby) said he was ‘concerned’ about the growth in the number of SEND pupils across the county and raised concerns about the rising costs for Lincolnshire County Council to provide specialist provision for these children.

He argued that money is being spent on children who do not need to be in the system – and feels this can leave less spent on those who need the extra support.

At a meeting on Monday, June 22, he said: “I was really concerned about SEND and the potential of its apparently exponential growth – both in terms of costs and in terms of the impacts of those kids who really actually do need it.”

He believes some children are getting ‘sucked in’ to the system at an early age ‘perhaps when they shouldn’t be’.

Coun Carrington went on to raise concerns that the current provision across the county isn’t doing enough to support SEND pupils once they leave the support network of the education system.

He added: “What particularly concerned me was that we take kids in at an early age. They then get spat out of the system at the far end – into an adult world that I’m not convinced we’re preparing them for.

“Are we really preparing them when all this support comes to an end – all of this specialness is suddenly withdrawn?”

Coun Carrington went to question whether the county council has any control over the numbers of SEND pupils it supports – and asked whether more support should be given to pupils with particularly complex needs.

He said: “Are we simply over the Government’s barrel that we can’t control the numbers? We’re always accused of villainy if we refuse an assessment.

“But, equally, if we accept all the assessments, we’re simply diluting resources that we don’t have – so the kids that need it most will suffer. None of this is easy.”

Deputy chief executive and executive director of children’s services Heather Sandy said: “I think it’s really important to say for those children who have got special educational needs, it’s right that we have a system that makes reasonable adjustments for them, provides extra provision where that’s necessary or provides specialist places so they can fulfil their potential.

“I completely agree, it’s right that we then prepare them for the transition onward from that – whether that be into working life or whether that be another arrangement.

“I think some of our children have extremely complex needs and are never going to live an independent adult life – and they’re going to need lifelong support.

“So, it’s important to recognise that not all children can be prepared for an independent adult life.”

Ms Sandy went on to say that the county council wants “a system that responds to need” and that “those needs are met” through effective SEND provision which allows children to return to mainstream school settings.

She added: “The underlying risk really is that we need a system that responds earlier, is more consistent and only escalates to statutory routes where that’s necessary.

“So, in Lincolnshire, what we’re doing specially to mitigate some of those is we’re not just focusing on managing the deficit and the financial risk.

“We’ve looked at changing our model, we’ve strengthened our mainstream inclusion, we’ve increased local provision, we’ve reduced reliance on independent and out-of-county placements where that’s not the best or most suitable answer.

“We’ve ensured that we keep children connected to their communities wherever possible.”