A family from Maidstone with two autistic children say they were offered £100,000 by Kent County Council (KCC) to move to another local authority area.

Tom Browne, a father of two boys with special educational needs, complained to KCC that his sons were not receiving the support outlined in care plans.

He claimed it resulted in an offer of cash to help fund a move away from the county.

Mr Browne, a litigation solicitor with Jarmans in Sittingbourne , is due to appear on Panorama tonight, in an episode focussing on families' struggles to make sure their children receive the right support.

He told the programme: "There were no limitations on how we spent it, the only condition was that we provided proof of residence that we had moved out of Kent and also that we agreed not to return to Kent for five years as residents.

"I’m still staggered by it. Why would they use that money to get us out of the county rather than to use (it) to help my kids? It feels like a huge waste of public money."

The Brownes, who also have a daughter, moved to Kent in May 2018 and the boys had Education Health and Care Plans produced by West Sussex, where they used to live.

While not refuting that cash was offered, KCC says no amount was agreed or paid, and it still believes it can meet the boys' schooling needs.

A spokesman said: "Despite our best efforts, we have struggled to find common ground with Mr Browne and in June 2019 we and NHS partners in West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) entered into a confidential mediation meeting with him in good faith.

"During the meeting a mediator, instructed by Mr Browne, proposed a financial solution whereby KCC would pay Mr Browne a sum of money per child to assist with the family’s move to another Local Authority area where Mr Browne believed the children’s needs could be better met.

"The proposal put forward by the mediator was unrealistic, the mediation failed, no amount was agreed and no monies were exchanged.

"The details of the discussion are still covered by the original confidentiality agreement, which Mr Browne agreed to and has subsequently broken on a number of occasions.

“The family still lives in Kent and KCC continues to provide support which continues to meet the children’s needs.”

Last year, a damning report was published criticising KCC's services for children with special needs and disabilities.

Ofsted inspectors and the Care Quality Commission found significant shortcomings in services provided by KCC and CCGs.

KCC said it had been "steadily improving" its provision, following a Written Statement of Action with the NHS, with a particular focus on "parental engagement".

Panorama: Fighting for an Education is on BBC One at 7.35pm this evening.

News from our universities, local primary and secondary schools including Ofsted inspections and league tables can be found here.

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