The UK’s special educational needs system is in crisis. With record waiting lists, chronic underfunding and a failure to properly support children in mainstream schools, SEND provision is clearly inadequate, something the Government has long promised to fix.

Yet, in recent months “middle-class parents” have been increasingly accused of exploiting the SEND system for their children’s gain, and placing further pressure on the system. Indeed, Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, described provision as “hijacked by parents who are abusing the system” for children “who don’t need it”. Parents say that the failing SEND system has left them with no choice but to push for more support.

So, is the SEND system being manipulated by the middle class to ensure their children get priority? Parent

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