The campaigners are marching on behalf of Tower Hamlets parents with children with SEND who are currently facing proposed cuts to Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP), top-up funding for schools and a 40 per cent reduction to the council’s support for learning service and behaviour team.
Tower Hamlets council put out proposals in July on changes to high needs SEND funding. It comes after the London borough closed the last of its council-run nurseries last year.
If the cuts go ahead, campaigners claim that the support for learning and service and the behaviour team will be unsustainable, leaving children with SEND without the essential support they need to ensure they can access their human right to an education.
Some 8,000 children with SEND attend Tower Hamlets and 3,000 of those have EHC Plans.
During the march, taking place tomorrow at midday, the campaigners will bring with them an invoice for £12m – the projected shortfall in Tower Hamlets Council’s high needs funding block by next year, quoted by cabinet member for children Danny Hassell.
It is believed the money would help maintain the future of the support for learning and behaviour services and keep EHCP funding at its current levels.
The SEND campaigners said, ‘Tower Hamlets schools and early intervention services have already faced devastating cuts. Our three remaining public day nurseries, which provided for vulnerable children, were closed last year.
‘Parents of children with additional needs are already struggling to have their children’s needs met and find appropriate support for their children’s learning.
‘The proposed cuts will have a devastating effect on the future chances of children with additional needs in Tower Hamlets.’
Tower Hamlets Council were contacted for a response but declined to comment.