SEND Parents Angry as council funded programme withdrawn.

An email says the financial help for the Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHC) will end and be replaced by a non-funded Supported Internship.

The email angered parents, who say how abrupt, rude and direct it is, and claim their current funded training or education will be withdrawn, with no guarantee of Council staff finding them a suitable replacement through their supported internship scheme.

A supported internship aims to provide young people with special educational needs or a disability (SEND) with work experience and skill development. These internships are generally available to those with an education, health, and care (EHC) plan.

The email, shared with Bucks Radio from a parent who's child uses the charity Animal Antiks, says the council are no longer in agreement to fund another year of the service.

Animal Antiks look after a diverse group of people with various needs, providing a safe and calm environment in which each individual can learn and grow on a working farm in North Marston, as well as following a program helping with skills needed in life and the workplace.

Here's the email;

On Monday, March 10, 2025, 11:11 am, ######### @buckinghamshire.gov.uk> wrote:

Hello

We would like to inform you that county are not in agreement to fund a further year of training and education at Animal Antiks, Haddon Training.

The Local Authority have decided to consult with a supported internship for ###### as a good possible pathway for him and they will be in touch to arrange a meeting to see if they feel they can meet ####### needs. 

We would be looking towards ceasing the plan in Sept 2025 if a supported internship alternative cannot be found to ensure a smooth transition to adult services,

Please let me know if you have any questions, 

Regards,

#############

 Education, Health and Care Coordinator, High Wycombe | Integrated SEND Service.

Sarah Kettlety has over 20 years’ experience in working with children, young people and adults with emotional, behavioural, special needs and disabilities and runs Animal Antiks.

Since these funding changes Sarah has be inundated with desperately unhappy and worried parents upset with the Council's decisions. Some of these parents, who's children all go to Animal Antiks, have contacted Bucks Radio.

Liane's daughter has always struggled in mainstream education and is diagnosed with ASD in the language disorder. Liane finds the email sent unacceptable.  "The email states that if a supported internship cannot be found, then her daughter's EHCP will cease in September 2025. The way all of this has been communicated is thoughtless and shows no compassion for the individual concerned. At no point have we've been given a choice or been consulted on the matter for my daughter and to leave before the program of training ends would be incredibly detrimental to her mental health, as well as stopping her from completing her full level qualification in animal care, which would enable her to find work in the local community without the need of a supported internship. In a nutshell, why would I want my daughter to prematurely leave the only place of education she has felt safe, secure and successful. "

Zoe's daughter, who has been diagnosed with autism, has been benefitting from attending Animal Antiks for a year and half. But in February, this year, Bucks Council rang her to say that her daughter wouldn't be able to attend the farm anymore, and wasn't informed of this decision going to panel at Bucks Council.

"It never seems to inform or involve parents of the decision about their children. How can removing a young person from a placement that is helping and working be beneficial to their well-being?" Zoe asks.

Jodie received an received an email from Bucks Council on Monday (10/03/25) saying the EHCP for her 22 year old daughter, who has autism and general learning difficulties, should cease at the end of this academic year and they would not fund the employability module for the 25/26 academic year. Instead she could do a supported internship, for no pay and little support. 

"Bucks Council went on to say that the company offering an internship would be in touch soon - this company did get in touch, they were in Chorley Wood and expected my daughter to get there on public transport (at her own cost) - FROM BUCKINGHAM!

I cannot tell you how totally devastated we are as a family, the next year would be so beneficial and allow my daughter to gain valuable employability skills in a safe and nurturing environment - meaning she hopefully would not need further social care services as she could gain employment and live a meaningful, valued life - even if only a part time position could be possible, she would still feel like a valued part of society. I cannot believe how short sighted Bucks are to make this decision and I will be appealing with all I have!"

Fiona's daughter does not fit the eligibility criteria at present for a supported internship. "I have been in direct contact with two providers but as she is not yet able to travel independently, she hasn't yet received travel training and in fact hasn't done employability skills as a learning module, she was not suitable."

"So this is not about progression for the young person, but is about budget cuts, budget reduction. How can it represent progression When you look at removing a young person from an environment in which that thriving and learning to suggest something for which they're not eligible as yet so potentially will have no placement at all?" claims the upset mother.

Louise, another parent affected, feels that Animal Antiks is a supported Internship and that her child is being supported properly through the charity. She states, "My child has already done a supported internship which did not give her the support she needed and her EHC plan was never updated whilst she was there. The Council needs to ask individual students/young adults about how they feel and get their opinions."

Liza is a student who is currently attends Animal Antiks, "I feel that Animal Antiks is supporting me properly and assisting me with my functional skills as well as assisting me with life skills, employability skills and preparation for the outside world." 

"From a personal point of view I've already experienced supported internship and I felt very let down, didn't get any help or support from it either and therefore wouldn't like to be apart in another one." 

Anita Cranmer is Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services. She said:

“We work closely with all families that have children or a young person with additional needs, all of whom are supported by a dedicated Education and Health Care co-ordinator. The young people on these programmes are all at an educational transition stage due to their age and we have been closely discussing the next steps with them and their families.  When a young person with an Education and Health Care Plan reaches the age of 16, our focus, working with the families and providers, is to make sure their ongoing support is right for the transition to adulthood, and that they can continue to grow and thrive whilst gaining further independence as appropriate to their individual needs. 

It is a period of change and transition and we obviously understand that this can be an unsettling and concerning time for all involved. This is why our dedicated support staff maintain a regular dialogue about what the best next steps should be. These will have been discussed at length in person, before the families in this case then received what was a follow-up email after these conversations had already taken place. 

We are sorry if any family has been upset by any aspect of our communication and we continue to work closely with them and all the young people of this age that we are supporting to ensure they are placed into the right provision to help them continue to grow and develop as they near adulthood.”