There are around 8,000 children and young people in Tower Hamlets who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or attend Alternative Provision (AP). We need a council that will fight for their rights, and challenge government cuts.

Unfortunately, while levels of need are increasing, the council is currently proposing cuts of up to 7% to funding support in schools. On top of that, it plans to make cuts to the Support for Learning Service and the Behaviour and Attendance Support Service, crucial central services which advise, train and support schools, families, children and young people with a range of needs: sensory, physical, medical, language & communication, learning and mental health.

We call on Mayor John Biggs and Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People to ditch these proposals and instead:

Uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child*

Uphold and value provision for children with SEND so they are fully included in their schools, make good progress and thrive in adulthood.

Join the SEND National Crisis campaign and campaign publicly with our communities against government funding cuts to SEND

Halt their flawed and exclusionary consultation process and engage properly with the community, schools & unions through a series of public assemblies on education across the borough

*in particular article 23: a child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life with dignity and, as far as possible, independence and to play an active part in the community. Governments must do all they can to support disabled children and their families; and article 29: education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full.