Amanda Batten, policy and campaigns officer at the National Autistic Society, said the problem was delegated funding, a key measure in the strategy, which cuts the amount of money held centrally by local education authorities in favour of greater control by schools.
Removing Barriers to Achievement: The Government's Strategy for Special Educational Needs promotes delegated funding as good practice. But parents contacting the National Autistic Society advocacy and education service say that delegated funding is not working and is making it harder to get special educational needs statements for their children.
"The local education authority pays my school 9,260 per year to provide my daughter with resources. The governors use the budget to make classes smaller. My LEA has been wonderful and supports me, but it seems its hands are tied," said one.
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