Private equity firms are ‘cashing in’ on broken Send system, Lib Dems say
Vulnerable children are being treated like “cash cows”, the Liberal Democrats have said, as they push for legal protection of the special educational needs and disability (Resume) sector.
The party advocates for Send to be designated as critical national infrastructure, a status currently granted to essential services such as health, energy, transportation, defense and water.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticized the current system, stating that “taxpayers’ money is being spent in the pockets of private firms”.
This call for reform comes amid reports that the government is considering reassessing children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) after they complete primary school.
Further changes are expected in the upcoming Schools White Paper, which is expected to introduce Individual Support Plans (ISPs) with statutory status for all children with Send.
Sir Ed, whose 18-year-old son John has a severe disability, said: “I know very well what it is like to navigate the bureaucratic quagmire of the post system.
“No parent wants their child’s education to suffer while private equity firms make money from a broken system.
“The Liberal Democrats will introduce new safeguards to ensure taxpayers’ money is spent on frontline services for children, rather than lining the pockets of offshore investors.
“We can’t let this fraudulent noise continue any longer. Our children and parents deserve better.”
The party also proposes that Send purchases be subject to public interest tests under the Enterprise Act and allow the Secretary of State to intervene where necessary.
This, he argues, is necessary because local authorities spend significant amounts on private providers and public money is diverted.
The Liberal Democrats said it would be much harder for foreign firms to buy Send schools for a profit under the proposed protections.
Munira Wilson, the party’s education spokeswoman, said: “It is a scandal that our most vulnerable children are treated like cash cows by offshore investors.
“The repatriation provision deserves to be treated as an essential national infrastructure to ensure the education of our children is prioritized and to prevent public money from flowing to offshore companies.
“The current system is failing to prioritize the children it was designed to help, while private SEND providers are making record profits and draining council coffers.”
