Dudley MP Sonia Kumar has accused the borough's children's services of treating special educational needs as a 'cost pressure' after a family spent 19 months battling the authority to secure an appropriate school placement for their autistic child.
The Labour MP highlighted the case of a child, whose identity is protected, who has autism and high care needs but is also highly academic. The child's family wanted a school that could offer suitable academic education, but Dudley Children's Services – rated inadequate by Ofsted in August – proposed a placement offering functional-skills qualifications instead.
Family forced to fight for 19 months
Ms Kumar took up the family's case after the council's initial proposal. She said: "We are talking about a young person with real academic promise – particularly in maths, science and computing – being steered towards a placement focused on functional skills. That is not inclusion; that is limitation by bureaucracy."
The family eventually won their case after 19 months of battling with the authority. They are now waiting for a judge to sign an order allowing the child to attend the school of their choice. The child, who hopes to work in space science, will attend the appropriate school.
MP: 'Victory but should never have been a battle'
Ms Kumar said: "This outcome is a victory for this family, but it should never have been a battle. Dudley Council tried to decide this child's future without properly listening to his needs or his parents' wishes."
She added: "Dudley Council must stop treating SEND as a cost pressure to be managed and start treating it as a legal duty and a moral imperative. That means timely assessments, meaningful parental engagement, and placements that match a child's abilities and aspirations – not just what is cheapest or most convenient for the authority."
Mother describes 'disgusting' treatment
The child's mother told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "That Ofsted report was no surprise to anybody that's had dealings with children's services because, the way we're treated for trying to get help for our children that we know best, it's disgusting."
The family said council officers ignored them despite evidence from the child's school that he is academically gifted. The mother added: "To them he is a number on a piece of paper but this is his life. We've had to miss work on stress leave, the constant emails, the constant worrying, the arguing back and forth with the council about what he needs. I'm happy we got the result but not happy about what we had to do to get it."
Council response
Dudley Council has not responded to requests from the Local Democracy Reporting Service for a comment on the case. Speaking after the release of the Ofsted report, Dudley cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Wayne Little, said: "We will not shy away from these findings. We accept responsibility, we are already acting, and we are determined to deliver lasting change. Our focus is, and remains, ensuring that every child and young person in Dudley receives the support, protection and opportunities they deserve."
