I share your concern about the damaging effects these cuts are likely to have on the futures of deaf children, especially at a time when demand for special needs support is rising. There is already evidence that the attainment and progress scores of deaf children at GCSE have declined significantly in recent years – it is completely wrong and shameful that these children should be denied the additional support they need to fulfil their potential at school and beyond.

It is a quite inadequate response for the Government to argue that it is spending more money than ever on special needs funding, when it is nevertheless failing to meet the needs of those with special educational needs.

There is clearly an urgent need for a review of this funding, and of the constraint on the ability of councils to allocate as much high needs funding as is required. As requested I have written to the Children’s Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, on your behalf and ask him to meet with the National Deaf Children’s Society to discuss this crisis.