Croydon Council says new provision will be in place by November, but parents say poor communication has left them uncertain and losing trust
When Daniela Sponder first saw a message in her Sanderstead mums’ WhatsApp group, she was concerned.
Another Croydon parent, Amy Jones, had shared alarming news: her son’s speech and language therapy (SALT) had been abruptly cut, despite being a legal entitlement under his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
“That rang alarm bells,” Daniela says. “Every child’s provision is different, so I thought…would this affect my son too?”
Unfortunately, it would, and the impact had reached other children across the borough. Daniela’s five-year-old son, Luca, now in Year 1 at a mainstream school in Croydon, has a speech delay and receives SALT through a private therapist fully funded by Croydon Council.
After making enquiries, Luca’s therapist confirmed their contract had been terminated, with no prior warning to families. Croydon Council, which is responsible for funding and securing the requirements of EHCPs, made the decision earlier this year.
EHCPs are legally-backed documents that outline the support a child with special educational needs must receive. If a child qualifies, the local authority is legally required to deliver every element of support listed in the plan.
SALT helps children who struggle with communication, language development, social interaction, or feeding issues. For many children with additional needs, like Daniela’s son and Amy’s son, Harry, regular SALT is essential to accessing learning and interacting with others effectively.
“We were on a waiting list just to understand where we stood,” Daniela told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). “The therapist told us to speak to the school or the council, but no one had the answers.”
According to Daniela, even the school’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator was blindsided. Most schools have a dedicated SEND coordinator, responsible for all SEND education matters.
“She was mortified that she hadn’t been made aware by the council,” Daniela recalls. “The SEND coordinator is our go-to person.”
Croydon Council has since confirmed it is switching to a new SALT provider, with a new service due to start in November. A spokesperson told the LDRS “the current model of speech and language therapy services has not always met the needs of children and young people in mainstream schools and colleges”, and that the government grant that funds it has increased, so it’s looking to improve the offering.
In the meantime, the council has said it will offer some parents support in the form of a personal budget, so they can find their own temporary therapy provider.
While Daniela said the personal budget would help, she emphasised it was no substitute for a consistent provider. She also highlighted a lack of communication regarding how long families would need to rely on these temporary services. And with all the affected parents hunting for a private therapist, there’s no guarantee they’ll all find one.
Before the LDRS informed her that the new service would come into effect in November, she was unaware and said her son was “in limbo”.
She described trying to get information before the LDRS’ involvement as like “banging our heads against a brick wall”.
For Amy Jones in Coulsdon, the impact of the cut has already been severe. Her eight-year-old son, Harry, who has epilepsy affecting his speech centre, is supposed to have weekly, targeted therapy.
“He’s verbal now, but really struggling to get his words out,” she told the LDRS. “He hasn’t had therapy for months and he’s getting frustrated.”
Amy was also told she could apply for a personal budget to cover private therapy, but delays and lack of response have stalled any progress. “I was shocked they could just stop it when it’s in the EHCP,” she says. “It’s a legal requirement, but no one seems able to explain how this was allowed to happen.”
Luca’s EHCP took three and a half years to secure. During this time, Daniela and her partner had to gather evidence, attend meetings, and navigate areas of law previously unknown to them.
“You think once you have it, it’s sorted. Yet now I’m asking, what’s the point of an EHCP if the council won’t deliver it?”
Families are now seeking legal advice. SENDIASS, an independent support service, has said Croydon may be in breach of the Children and Families Act 2014 by failing to deliver EHCP provision.
Despite her frustration, Daniela remains determined. “I’ve been fighting for my son for three and a half years. That fight won’t stop now.”
She added that the challenge has drawn her closer to a community of parents like Amy, who are all in the same fight. “I have people reaching out to me who I never even knew,” she said.
SEND parents in Croydon looking for others to share experiences and information with can join a dedicated Facebook group.
A spokesperson from Croydon Council said: “Following feedback from schools and parents, we know that the current model of speech and language therapy services has not always met the needs of children and young people in mainstream schools and colleges.
“The local authority and schools support funding for speech and language therapy from the Dedicated Schools Grant, which is administered by the council, and this element of funding has increased. We are improving services to ensure that children and young people get the help they need, at the right time.
“The council and NHS have worked with schools and families to design better and more targeted services. The new speech and language therapy offer will be available from November and we are informing families and schools how to access this support.
“We want to assure parents and carers that speech and language therapy services are continuing in Croydon. We have recently changed service providers in the borough to make improvements; this may have created uncertainty for some families.
“During this transition, we have put arrangements in place to support families with any concerns about the changes to these services.”
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