WEST Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour has called on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to protect school budgets in the face of a potential Government trade-off for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) funding.

Mrs Gilmour warned Ms Phillipson not to gut the wider schools’ budget in order to cover the Government’s recently announced £3 billion funding for new SEND facilities on mainstream school sites.

The Department for Education (DfE) said the initiative would create about 50,000 new specialist places nationwide.

Mrs Gilmour welcomed the move but expressed concern as to where the funding would be sourced after the DfE said it was part of a Government £38 billion investment in the education estate.

The statement raised red flags about the financial position of the rest of the capital investment, with some new Westcountry capital schools projects reportedly being axed as a result.

Mrs Gilmour said it would not be the first time the Government had ‘promised the earth in education, only to not meet its rhetoric with actions’.

She said: “While this announcement on specialist provision in mainstream schools is a step in the right direction in providing greater opportunities for SEND education, this decision cannot be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“If we are to truly ensure every child can achieve and thrive in education, then this Government needs to be open and honest about where this funding is coming from.

“I welcome any ambition from the Government to ensure children with SEND get the support they desperately deserve, but my constituents would not forgive this Government if this announcement comes at the cost of not rebuilding Tiverton High, or further harsh cuts in other areas of the schools’ budget.”

Mrs Gilmour questioned if the Government would stand up to private equity firms which were ‘taking families for a ride and draining council coffers’.