(UK) Huddersfield: Headteacher angry at council's lack of special ed support

Jan 6, 2026, Examiner Live: Huddersfield head's frustration over 'delays and rejections' for parents of children with special needs

A headteacher has spoken of her frustration and anger over delays in getting extra support for children in Huddersfield with special educational needs.

Emma McKenna of Lindley Junior School in Lindley has directed her anger at Kirklees Council over delays in assessing or reassessing the educational needs of pupils, as well as what she says are "unlawful decisions" to reject parents' pleas for support.

Emma, who is the school's SEND (Special Educational Needs) co-ordinator, says parents are having to take their lengthy battles for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) to tribunal after Kirklees had disagreed with their appeals. Parents had faced the "scary" tribunal process and in some instances had won their cases, she said.

Emma says she is "appalled" at the situation and says she has to constantly fight alongside parents to get properly funded educational support in the classroom even though their children have already been diagnosed with special needs. She says the situation is leading to parents suffering breakdowns and children missing school. . . .

She claimed that that when approaching Kirklees, she is "constantly met with 'no', negativity, unlawful actions and most recently a blame email for the number of tribunals held or listed for SEND pupils at my school."

She claimed the local authority had unfairly "hit out" at the school over the number of tribunals listed, despite the fact that it was parents' role to apply for EHCPs.

Emma says that Kirklees is facing financial difficulties and it appeared its EHCP team was "in decline".

And she claimed that delaying the EHCP process was saving Kirklees money as a successful application can lead to funding of thousands of pounds for specialist education. . . .

"Vulnerable children are at the centre of this crisis, and it is a financial crisis," the parent added. She described the paperwork involved as "overwhelming". . . .

In a statement, a Kirklees Council spokesman said: "Like all areas, our wider SEND system faces complex difficulties based on insufficient national funding and very high demand.

"We recognise that local EHCP processes have been under pressure but, due to a range of key measures we have taken, good progress has been made over recent months. . . . .