A MAJOR shake-up of the special educational needs system will give parents a personal budget to spend on the care of their children.

The radical reforms will also remove "dependence" on local authorities in assessing a child's requirements and instead encourage voluntary and community groups to co-ordinate support packages.

But a leading Wirral Labour councillor has raised concerns the voluntary sector may not have the skills of highly-trained professionals needed to do the job properly.

The proposals are revealed in a Department of Education green paper discussion document published today.

The paper says the far-reaching changes will: Include parents in the assessment process and introduce a legal right, by 2014, to give them control of funding for the support their child needs.

Replace statements with a single assessment process and a combined education, health and care plan so health and social services is included in the package of support.

Ensure assessments and plans run from birth to 25 years old.

Overhaul teacher training and professional development to help pupils with special educational needs raise their attainment.

Inject greater independence from local authorities in assessments by looking at how voluntary groups might co-ordinate the package of support.

Give parents a greater choice of school and give parents and community groups the power to set up special free schools.

Deputy leader of Wirral Labour group Cllr Phil Davies told the Globe: "I welcome anything that makes the whole process less complicated for parents and applaud the green paper for that.

"But placing a bigger role on community and voluntary groups is worrying.

"I would question whether there are the skills and expertise needed to cover the extremely complicated spectrum of special needs co-ordination.

"This is the probem with the whole 'Big Society' issue.

"There are some excellent volunteers out there who can become involved, but this should not be at the expense of expert, highly-trained professionals."

Councillor Sheila Clarke, cabinet member for children and young people, disagrees.

She said: “The current system of ‘statementing’ is a distressing time for children and their parents.

Too often, the parents are serving the system instead of the system serving the parents. We must make it simpler and fairer.

“However, Labour is wrong to question whether voluntary and community organisations have the skills needed to play a bigger role in supporting children with special needs.

"The organisations that help children, or provide advice and guidance to their parents, are often established by people who have ‘been through the system’ or who have first-hand experience of its failings.

"Too often, the system is too slow to respond and unable to adapt.

"Voluntary and community organisations have been trying for years to improve the way in which children with special needs are supported.

"Now, with the changes being proposed by the Government, it looks like many of their wishes will be met."