Action group claims over 440 SEND children in Central Bedfordshire are being denied full-time schooling

The local authority only replied to a legal notice from a pressure group for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Central Bedfordshire after a councillor intervened on its behalf at a meeting.

The Central Bedfordshire SEND Action Group formally served legal notice on Central Bedfordshire Council’s statutory monitoring officer under section five of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, at the end of last month.

It presented a dossier of 27 upheld local government and social care ombudsman rulings, with more than £38,000 paid in compensation by CBC – and proof of more than 440 local children denied full-time school.

Given a 14 day deadline to respond, there was no reply from the local authority before the subject was raised in open questions at a full council meeting byLabour Dunstable North councillor Matt Brennan.

“Central Bedfordshire SEND Action Group has reportedly confronted the council with irrefutable proof of systemic statutory failure, including 27 upheld ombudsman rulings and 440 local children denied full time school,” he explained.

“The council reportedly ignored the group’s representation. Why is the council completely ignoring all legal notices about our children’s education?”

Independent Flitwick councillor Gareth Mackey acknowledged he saw the email, saying: “We take very seriously any legal notices which come to us on this.

“The email you referred to contained a considerable amount of evidence, which takes time to go through. I’m in the process of awaiting a formal response to this, but I’m happy to advise how we’ll address that as soon as it arrives.”

Councillor Brennan added: “What’s your response to these factual accusations with the number of children denied full-time education?”

Executive member for children and families councillor Mackey replied: “It’s extremely important every child has the opportunity to attend school in some way, as far as the ability of each will allow.

“It’s something which isn’t always easy, and I know families go through very difficult times to try and get their children to go to school. I know our response to that isn’t always perfect, and I accept there’s much that needs to change and improve to better the chances for those children.

“I don’t wish to make a blanket statement about what was alleged. Each of those cases needs to be investigated individually, and we need to understand what’s behind every one of those before I can tell you whether they’re factual accuracies or indeed accusations.

“But it’s very important we don’t minimise the experience of families going through a tough time getting their children to school for whatever reason.

“It’s incumbent on us to be empathetic, to try and listen and to direct our resources in the best way possible within those limitations to back them up, provide the support they need and get their children back into school.”

The action group confirmed on social media it received a reply from CBC’s deputy monitoring officer and deputy solicitor for the authority on Friday (September 25).

It read: “Thank you for your further correspondence, and for the additional information and evidence you’ve provided recently. We acknowledge receipt of your email and the matters you’ve raised.

“We appreciate the seriousness of your concerns, and the time and effort you’ve taken to set these out in detail. The information provided is being carefully considered by the monitoring officer, in the context of the council’s statutory responsibilities.

“A substantive response will be provided once that process has been completed. Thank you for your patience in the meantime.”