Two sets of parents are taking Devon County Council to High Court, arguing the local authority has agreed to make cuts to special educational needs (SEN) services without consultation.
In March 2024, Devon County Council agreed a deal with the Government that would see the council receive £95m to address its historic Dedicated Schools Grant deficit.
The parents argue the Safety Valve agreement involved the council agreeing to make cuts to SEN services without any consultation or examining the long-term implications for children.
A spokesperson for the council said the authority would not be ‘implementing blanket policies that do not consider the individual needs of children and young people.’
They added that the council had followed the same process as other local authorities entering similar Safety Valve agreements and would be ‘strongly defending’ their position.
For more on this topic, check out What do safety valve agreements mean for children with SEND?
