Private equity firms are ‘cashing in’ on broken Send system, Lib Dems say

Vulnerable children are being treated arsenic "cash cows", nan Liberal Democrats have said, arsenic they push for nan special acquisition needs and disabilities (Send) assemblage to beryllium granted ineligible protections.

The statement is advocating for Send to beryllium designated arsenic captious nationalist infrastructure, a position presently afforded to basal services for illustration health, energy, transport, defence, and water.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticised nan existent system, stating that "taxpayers’ money is being spent lining nan pockets of backstage firms."

This telephone for betterment comes amid reports that nan authorities is considering reassessing children pinch Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) upon their completion of superior school.

Further changes are anticipated successful nan forthcoming Schools White Paper, which is expected to present Individual Support Plans (ISPs) pinch ineligible opinionated for each children pinch Send.

Sir Ed, whose 18-year-old boy John has terrible disabilities, said: “I cognize what it’s for illustration to person to navigate nan bureaucratic quagmire of nan Send strategy each excessively well.

“No genitor wants to spot their child’s acquisition suffer while backstage equity firms rate successful connected a surgery system.

“Liberal Democrats would present caller protections to guarantee taxpayers’ money is spent connected frontline services for children, not lining nan pockets of offshore investors.

“We cannot let this rigged racket to resistance connected immoderate longer. Our children and parents merit better.”

The statement besides proposes to taxable Send acquisitions to nationalist liking tests nether nan Enterprise Act, allowing nan Secretary of State to intervene if needed.

It argues this is basal arsenic a consequence of section authorities spending important amounts connected backstage providers, pinch nationalist money being diverted.

Under nan projected protections, overseas firms would find it overmuch harder to bargain Send schools for profit, nan Lib Dems said.

The party’s acquisition spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “It is simply a ungraded that our astir susceptible children are being treated for illustration rate cows by offshore investors.

“Send proviso deserves to beryllium treated arsenic basal nationalist infrastructure, to guarantee our children’s acquisition is prioritised and forestall nationalist money being funnelled distant to offshore companies.

“The existent strategy simply fails to prioritise nan very children it is designed to help, each while backstage SEND providers rake successful grounds profits and compression assembly coffers dry.”