'I'm in a war' Parents clash with struggling councils amid Send funding crisis

'We've appealed to the council but it could take months. It's emotionally and physically draining' Paul McAnenny Father of Tommy

- Jessica Murray

It was as a last resort that Paul McAnenny launched an online fundraiser to help him pay for the fuel needed to drive his son to a special school on the other side of Birmingham, a 90-minute round trip on top of the school run for his two older daughters.

Three-year-old Tommy, who is deaf and has charge syndrome, which affects his breathing and heart, was given a space at the school through an education, health and care plan (EHCP) to help with his early learning and development - crucial for someone with his condition.

McAnenny said he was led to believe Birmingham city council would cover the transport costs but, owing to cost-cutting measures brought in since the council in effect declared itself bankrupt last year, all young people outside compulsory school age no longer get automatic access to council-funded transport.

"It's emotionally and physically draining at the moment," McAnenny said, adding that Tommy's school run costs an extra £160 a month in fuel. "I recently started a part-time job to try to give me some extra money to fund taking him to school, but it's difficult as I'm his carer, I only really have a few hours in the middle of the day.

"We've appealed to the council but we could be waiting months. I don't know what else to do."

McAnenny is one of many parents on the frontline of the nationwide crisis in support and resources for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), which is especially acute in areas with cash-strapped local authorities. Send services are often among the first to go as councils seek to streamline their budgets, and in turn parents are increasingly having to resort to appeals and tribunals.

In Birmingham, the number of tribunals brought against the council on Send decisions has risen from 291 in 2020, to 525 in 2022 and only 3.7% were found in the council's favour. It is estimated the authority spent £10m fighting Send appeals between 2014 and 2021.