Dudley Councillor Takes Protest to Council Over Special Needs Support Failures
A Dudley councillor and father of an autistic child has taken his protest directly to the headquarters of the council's children's services department, demanding urgent improvements in support for special needs children. Councillor Matt Cook, whose four-year-old son is non-verbal and non-mobile due to autism, highlighted systemic issues with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) during a demonstration at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill on March 18.
Delays and Communication Breakdowns Criticized
Cllr Cook, who represents Brierley Hill and Wordsley South for the Black Country Party, spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the problems facing parents. He emphasized that children with special educational needs have a legal right to education, but without proper EHCPs, schools cannot provide the necessary support. Parents often wait months or even years for plans their children are entitled to, facing poor communication from the authority.
"Parents are left waiting for months, sometimes years, to get the support their child is legally entitled to," said Cllr Cook. He added that he has spoken to numerous parents across the borough who experience similar delays and frustration.
Council Funding and Ongoing Challenges
In December 2025, Dudley Council announced an extra £1.3 million in spending for special educational needs services, including £500,000 for educational psychologists who handle EHCP assessments. Councillor Wayne Little, cabinet member for children and young people, stated that this funding reflects the council's commitment to helping every child thrive and aims to reduce waiting times and improve support quality.
However, Cllr Cook's personal experience suggests that even being an elected council member has not helped. He revealed that his son requires one-to-one feeding provision at school, but the council has refused to include it in his plan, claiming it does not exist. "I've spoken to a lot of parents right across our borough who've said their child received one-to-one feeding support," he noted, arguing that without such support, children cannot thrive or be educated properly.
Calls for Systemic Change
The protest underscores broader concerns about the effectiveness of current systems in place for special needs children in Dudley. Cllr Cook's actions highlight the need for faster EHCP processing, better communication with families, and more tailored support to ensure all children can access their right to education. As the council works to implement its funding boost, parents and advocates continue to push for tangible improvements that address these critical gaps in service.
