CHILDREN with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being let down by the government, a councillor has warned.

Cllr Ann Cunliffe, Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for children, says “failure to fund the rise in the number of SEND pupils is jeopardising the support children and young people with the most complex needs rely on.”

And in a motion to be put forward at tonight’s meeting of the full council, she will call for an “immediate increase in funding” for schools to allow them to deliver additional support for SEND children.

Cllr Cunliffe wants the chamber to back her call for the council to write to the government for an “enhanced allocation of funding” — as well as referring the issue around SEND education to a policy development group (PDG) to consider further.

Cllr Cunliffe also wants support for the council’s ambition for a “sustainable funding system” that responds to the needs of each area in the borough, which acknowledges the “complexities of providing high quality SEND education”.

The motion will be voted on in the council chamber tonight.