The Lib Dems have called on the Government to cap the ‘exorbitant' profits of private providers of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schooling.
House of Commons Library research commissioned by the party found the top private equity companies providing SEND schooling have made combined profits of more than £100m a year.
The Lib Dems called on the Government to introduce profit caps of 8% for these private firms to curb what it described as ‘excessive profiteering off the backs of disabled children'.
Lib Dem education spokesperson Munira Wilson said: ‘Children with special educational needs should not be viewed as cash cows for vulture firms. This excessive profiteering is a major driver of the crisis in our SEND system. These companies should be ashamed.'
A Department for Education spokesperson said: ‘The system we've inherited has been failing families of children with SEND for far too long, and it's appalling that some companies are capitalising on this crisis.
‘We are already making progress to reform the SEND system – from more early intervention in mainstream schools through to £740m investment to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools.'
