Tory cuts to support for most vulnerable children (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Tory cuts to support for most vulnerable children

February 14, 2006 2:56 PM
By Cllr Jean Fooks in County Council

The Tories talk about 'real choice'. But for whom? They are proposing to allow cuts in the services for the most vulnerable children and young people. Do they realise just what they are proposing?

Cuts to the support for children with special needs - with hearing and language problems, with autism, with physical and mental disabilities.

Schools tell us that they need more support with behaviour problems, to allow teachers to get the best from the children in their class - but the Tories are allowing cuts in the Behaviour support service, in the Pupil Referral unit and in the hours of home tuition provided for those excluded from school. We propose to remove those cuts.

The recent Commission for Social Care Inspection said the Council is only serving 'some' children well and commented on the lack of capacity in the fostering service. This Tory budget looks likely to serve fewer children well, not more. We are proposing expanding the skills and recognition of our most experienced foster carers, so that more children can be placed near their homes and costs of agency or out-of-county placements are reduced.

Our budget would cost a Band D taxpayer an extra 50p a month. I recall Cllr Mitchell saying that the budget of two years ago would cost the taxpayer the price of a tin of baked beans a week. Ours proposes to increase costs by such a tin only every month - and would give Oxfordshire residents much more 'real choice'.

I commend our budget amendments to you.