I held a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) roundtable with local families and education professionals across the area.
The meeting discussed the improvements that Labour plans to make to the system of support for children with SEND, and the extra investment the government is putting into schools to meet children’s needs.
12 members of the public attended the roundtable, sharing views based off their lived experience or professional expertise.
This conversation will feed into the government consultation on reforming the SEND system so families don’t have to battle to get support, following extensive engagement to develop these plans since Labour entered government.
Labour’s plans will modernise the education system so that inclusion is at the very heart, and that every local school is able to meet children’s needs.
The government’s reforms will ensure:
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Every child who needs extra support will have a personal plan, that sets out the extra help they’ll get to succeed, matched against high national standards.
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In every classroom teachers will be trained to meet the needs of children with SEND, based on the latest evidence, and backed by £200 million of investment.
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New dedicated school funding, similar to the pupil premium, to deliver proven SEND programmes such as small-group intensive language and communication support will transform day-to-day experiences for children.
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Every secondary school will have an inclusion base where they can deliver additional support and small group work – following £3.7 billion investment to build inclusion bases, open up access to buildings and create over 60,000 more specialist places across early years settings, schools and college.
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In every corner of the country, families will be able to send their child to school with confidence, with Experts at Hand to provide more professional support like speech and language therapists for those with speech, language and communication needs.
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Extending Best Start Family Hubs to all areas, with a SEND expert in every one delivering outreach, and advice, ensuring families get the support they need both at home and through their education setting.
Thank you to everyone who attended my roundtable and everyone who has filled in my SEND survey. We had a really productive discussion, with parents of SEND children of different ages and educational professionals.
Children with SEND and their families have previously been let down – by the previous Conservative government and now by Reform-led Lancashire County Council, who are responsible for SEND in the local area.
I’m really pleased that Labour is changing the SEND system for the better, and to do that it’s vital that we hear from those who will be impacted by it most. That’s why today’s roundtable was so important.