Legislate to ensure that if a child with SEND cannot attend due to inadequate care , lack of suitable provision or school avoidance, the school must forfeit that funding. This money must be removed from the school roll and redirected by the Local Authority straight to the parents or an independent oversight body charged with ensuring the child's educational allowance is distributed properly to alternative providers to fund their continuing education, unless the parents explicitly state otherwise.

**The Problem**
A massive loophole in the SEND system allows schools to keep a child's full educational allowance even when they fail to provide a safe, accessible environment, sometimes for years !!! Whether a child suffers from emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) or is withdrawn due to inadequate provision, schools are financially incentivised to do nothing. They keep funding for whole-school benefits, while families are left with nothing. This exploits vulnerable children for institutional financial gain.

Crucially, keeping children on-roll masks their absence, preventing the Local Authority’s legal duty under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to arrange 'education otherwise' from being triggered. We demand that funding follow the child, not the empty desk. If a school does not educate a child, they must lose the money. It should be redirected safely to parents or managed by a dedicated overseeing body to ensure resources are distributed properly to secure the child's right to an education.

Statistics from the Department for Education reveal that thousands of SEND children across the UK are registered non-attenders, yet funding allocated for their education is not redirected or reallocated in a manner that benefits them elsewhere, such as through home education services or tailored resources delivered in another setting.

**Call for Action**
We call upon local education authorities and the Department for Education to revise funding policies for SEND pupils. This can include creating a system where the allocated funds can follow the pupil, ensuring they receive the necessary educational support regardless of attendance at a traditional school setting. This can also involve setting up dedicated teams who assess and redirect funds based on the pupils’ individual circumstances, ensuring funds directly impact their learning experience in a positive, effective manner.

**A Vision for Change**
By compelling policy-makers to address this overlooked issue, we can ensure that every SEND child receives the fair educational opportunity that they deserve. This change isn't just about justly dealing with finances; it's about ensuring justice and equality in access to education.