Alistair Strathern, MP for Hitchin, has welcomed a £740 million cash injection from the Labour government to pave the way for more pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to achieve and thrive in mainstream schools.
This new funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND, and to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs.
Strathern has been campaigning to better SEND provision locally since he became an MP last year. In September, Strathern secured and led a Westminster debate on the state of SEND provision in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, and fed into the debate the testimony of hundreds of families who had contacted his office.
He has also set up a quarterly forum for all Hertfordshire MPs and Herts County Council on SEND to help turn the situation around. The group have had their first meeting and will continue to work together to make progress.
His office has heard from countless families who, with their child unable to receive to right school place, have taken unpaid leave or drained savings to home school; gone to court to fight for their child’s school place; and tragically have seen their children suffer anxiety and depression over their situation.
Alistair Strathern MP said:
“Having spoken with constituents about this issue at length about this out and about, I’m really pleased to see this needed investment in SEND provision.
“This approach will break down barriers to opportunity for children with SEND and pave the way for the wide-ranging reform we desperately need.
“I will continue to campaign on this issue and stand up for the many hundreds of SEND families in my constituency that need our support.”
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, said:
“The current picture is stark. For too long, too many children with additional needs haven’t been getting support early enough, with dire consequences when issues escalate.
“But my commitment to reform – making tangible change to the SEND system to improve experiences for children and families – could not be clearer.
“We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for all children and will work closely with local authorities, schools and families to ensure inclusion is at the heart of learning and that all pupils are getting the support they need to achieve and thrive.”
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