As the government announces major reforms to SEND provision at a national level, Maya Sall talks to parents in Barnet about their local experiences

An office block, photographed from the ground looking up — Barnet Council’s Colindale offices (Credit – Barnet Council)

Support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is a national problem. So much so that the government will unveil a plan tomorrow as part of an attempt to clarify what support should be available and how this should be decided.

However, the specific experiences of seeking support for children with SEND vary greatly across different local areas. Here in Barnet, parents have accused the council of “life-threatening” failures in support for local children and young people.

Several parents, many with more than one child with SEND, have told Barnet Post that getting their children an education is a ‘constant fight’, despite them being academically able.

They chronicle a series of issues and failings, including tuition funding being denied without reason, unresponsive caseworkers and a failure to place their children in schools which can support their needs.

Out of date assessments

“We used to live in Haringey, and we were supported,” said one parent from Finchley Central. “But it’s been a mess since we moved to Barnet two years ago.”

She explained that her son’s education, health and care plan (EHPC), an assessment which identifies the educational, health and social needs and additional support required for under 25s with SEND needs, has not been accurately updated since they relocated, despite her repeated requests. An EHPC is legally required to be updated annually.

“My caseworker told me that it has been updated, but what they sent me was his EHPC from when he was in Year 4,” the parent added.

Her son is now in Year 6 and starting secondary school in the autumn. Without an accurate EHPC, the family is struggling to find a school that can support his needs, and their caseworker is slow to respond. “Sometimes we go months without hearing from them,” she said.

Barnet Council told the Post that 4,906 (3.40 per cent) of under 25s in the borough have SEND needs and an ECHP. This is slightly under the London average of 3.44 per cent. There are also a further 377 children with SEND but without EHCPs that are supported by schools in the borough.

Barnet employs 19 SEND caseworkers, meaning one caseworker for every 278 children and young people. That is above the London average, of one caseworker for every 300.

“We feel like chess pieces, always getting moved around. We’re always being told to speak to someone else or fill in another form,” the parent continued. “They just delay and delay taking any action, and this has real consequences. My son doesn’t go to school everyday, is not getting an education, and his mental health is deteriorating.”

“Insufficient evidence” to meet needs

Simply securing an EHPC has been difficult for one parent, Durim. His daughter has autism, and rarely speaks, “but the school is telling me there’s insufficient evidence to get an EHPC. She’s attended school for three years, how is that not enough time?”.

Without an EHPC, Durim said his daughter is not receiving the educational support she needs.

“She needs one-to-one tuition. She’s never got that, so she’s fallen behind even though she loves learning and is really bright,” said Durim. “You shouldn’t have to fight for your child to get an education when they’re already in school.”

Durim has been told by a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) at the school that not every child is entitled to an EHPC. SENCOs work for their school, not the local authority, but councils have a legal duty to identify and support children with special educational needs.

The Post asked Barnet Council how they audit schools to ensure children with SEND’s needs are met. A spokesperson responded: “There is frequent training for SENCOs. The continual professional development training ensures that SENCOs, even those new to Barnet, know what support is in place.

“Many non-speaking children are well supported in schools and the expectation that every school employs a qualified SENCO means that they have a qualified SEND professional who has experience in implementing support for children speaking and non-speaking.

“Schools have access to services through the Local Authority’s services including the Autism Advisory team and Educational Psychology services.”

Children and young people are eligible for government funded tuition, if it aligns with their EHPC plan, but accessing this funding has proven difficult for parents. Like many families, Durim has resorted to private tuition, and pays for a maths and English tutor.

Unpredictable support

Keith is 18 and unable to attend college full time because of his physical disabilities. Until he turns 19, however, he cannot attend college part-time. Despite being an academically able, and articulate, young person, his education has been plagued by issues. Twice he has been off-rolled from school (one mainstream, and one autism specialist school). This, along with extended periods in hospital meant he was unable to take his GCSEs.

His physical disabilities mean he is unable to attend college full time, and part-time study is not available to under 19s. As such, since leaving school at 16, he has relied on one-to-one tuition to study for his qualifications.

Keith took Japanese throughout secondary school, and wanted to continue. Despite being told he could study what he wanted, he was eventually told they could not find him a Japanese tutor.

“We found a tutor independently, and applied to the council for funding, but they told us that because it’s not a core subject, they wouldn’t give it to us,” explains his mothers, Saskia.

They are now paying for Japanese tuition privately. “I understand that there is no money. But we’re only asking for two hours of funding, and we are covering the rest,” said Saskia.

Saskia has twice taken Barnet Council to a tribunal, and won. “I could probably do that again, but that would take another year, by which time Keith can go to college.”

“Since I was 16 I’ve been stuck in a limbo period. It’s frustrating because I’m falling behind for no reason,” said Keith. “Why did they take away my education?”

Keith is the oldest of Saskia’s two children, and her youngest also has SEND. “We can’t do this forever, we’re going to run out of money. I know Barnet Council doesn’t have a lot, there’s been budget cuts since my son was seven, but we’re made to feel like it’s our fault.”

Barnet receives £20,080 government funding per child with an EHCP. It’s the fourth lowest in London, with the average around 23k. National government funding for Barnet Council increased 6.9 per cent for the 2025-2026 financial year.

Earlier this month, the government announced it will spend £5bn to pay off 90% of the debts English councils have built up through supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) by the end of the financial year.

“What we really want is to be treated with a bit of dignity, and to be told the truth,” said Saskia. “We understand the system, we know how to fight it. But there are parents and children out there who are falling through the cracks.”

“Barnet lies to us”

Over the past decade, the number of children and young people with an EHPC plan in Barnet has more than doubled, rising by 138 per cent.

Another parent from Finchley, who did not want to be named, told Barnet Post that last year she went to a meeting hosted by her MP, Sarah Sackman, with 35 other parents of children and young people with SEND needs.

“Everyone there told their story and it was heartbreaking,” she said. “We were given a stack of post-it notes and put our concerns and problems on the wall, and the overwhelming overwhelming response was ‘they lie’. Barnet lies to us. They tell us we can have funding, and then next year, they take it away, or make it impossible to access altogether.”

In response to questions from the Post, Cllr Pauline Coakley Webb, cabinet member for family friendly Barnet, said: “The council is committed to ensuring that as many children as possible receive mainstream education, and this includes for children with SEND. Barnet is nationally ranked the fourteenth best local authority for mainstream inclusion. Barnet is also one of a few local authorities to deliver 100% of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) within the legal time limit of 20 weeks. The average delivery rate across England is 49.2%.

“However, the increasing complexity of needs among children with SEND is placing unprecedented pressure on the mainstream and specialist systems. Barnet saw a 49% increase in EHCPs between 2020 and 2024 and a 104% increase in requests for EHCPs over the same period. We are currently forecasting 5,500 EHCPs by 2028.”

She added: “The data clearly demonstrate a growing cohort with highly complex autism, social emotional mental health, and multi-sensory needs who require specialist placements. Forecasts indicate that this demand will continue to rise over the next five years. We have invested significantly in strengthening mainstream inclusion through a well-developed Local Inclusion Support Offer, targeted early intervention pathways, and specialised packages.

“We appreciate the frustration that some parents or carers are experiencing to secure the best educational support for their children. We are committed to working closely with families to ensure that needs are understood and met to achieve the best possible outcomes for every child.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.