Pupils with special educational needs should not be victims of cost cutting - Brooke

Commenting on figures released by the Department for Education and Skills today showing that the number of children known to have special educational needs (SEN) but have not been given a statement rose by 5% in the last year, Liberal Democrat Children's Spokesperson Annette Brooke MP said:

"It is appalling that our most vulnerable children are being neglected. Parents will quite rightly want assurances that their children are getting the support they need, and are not becoming victims of Government cost cutting.

"The Government is not giving local authorities the resources they need for adequate provision of services. It should be a wake up call to Ministers when they see how many children from poorer homes are struggling.

"These figures have also highlighted the real and growing problems primary school children have with speaking and listening skills. More effort needs to go into tackling this issue as early as possible in a child's life. Mountains of tests and targets for reading, writing and arithmetic have led to vital speaking and listening skills being overlooked."