Torbay Liberal Democrats have raised concerns about Torbay Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service, with Torbay MP Steve Darling alleging that families are facing significant delays and poor communication while trying to access support for their children.
More than 140 constituents have approached Steve Darling MP’s office seeking assistance in resolving issues with Torbay Council’s Children’s Services department.
The party says some parents have waited more than six months to be allocated a named SEND caseworker, while others have experienced delays in receiving responses to emails and requests for support.
The Liberal Democrats also allege that information obtained through a subject access request indicates staff within the Council’s SEND team were advised not to respond to Mr Darling’s office when he was acting on behalf of constituents. Steve Darling says this has made it more difficult to help families resolve their cases.
According to the Torbay Liberal Democrats, Mr Darling has now lodged a formal complaint with Torbay Council regarding what he describes as the performance, culture and leadership of the authority’s SEND service.
Steve Darling MP said: “I have serious concerns regarding the performance, culture and leadership of Torbay Council’s SEND service. They have consistently failed to respond to emails and to provide adequate support to parents.
“My team has been consistently struck by the capability, determination and resilience of the parents who have approached us, many only after exhausting every avenue within the Council. I am deeply concerned for those families who may be less confident or less able to advocate for themselves.
“As a former Leader of Torbay Council, I never experienced such a refusal to engage. I have reached out to other MPs who shared that their local authorities engage with them in a collaborative way to help families. I can only conclude that this culture has developed since the Conservatives took control of the Authority. For this reason I have lodged a formal complaint with the Council.
“Parents of children with SEND need more support to nurture their children through life so that they have the best chance to succeed. They should not receive poor service, resistance and stress from authorities, when they already have to face additional demands.”
We Are South Devon contacted Torbay Council for comment before publication, no response had been received at the time of publication. This article will be updated should Torbay Council provide a statement.
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