Portsmouth MP backs government plans to create thousands of new specialist places for pupils with SEND.
– Major reforms to SEND system kicked off with £740 million capital investment to create more specialist places in mainstream schools.
– Professor Karen Guldberg appointed as Chair of a group of experts that will work alongside the Department to drive inclusion for neurodiverse children
– Follows damning National Audit Office report that exposed the special educational needs system in crisis
Thousands of pupils are to benefit from 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.
It will start to pave the way for Labour’s wide-ranging, long term plans for reform to help more pupils with SEND to have their needs met in mainstream schools.
Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North, has come out in support of the plans following conversations with constituents who highlighted support for children with SEND as a top priority.
As well as additional funding, the government also announced that Professor Karen Guldberg has also been appointed as Chair of a new “Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group” – a group of experts that will work alongside the Department for Education to drive support for neurodivergent children in mainstream education and increase understanding of inclusion. Guldberg brings a wealth of experience from her background as the Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research and Head of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham.
Last month the National Audit Office highlighted the crisis in the SEND system, with very limited progress having been made in making mainstream schools more inclusive in recent years, harming children’s life chances.
Since leaving government, Conservative Shadow Ministers reflected on the SEND system they left behind with one telling a reception at Conservative Party Conference that his government ‘did not do enough’ on SEND and as a result they should ‘hang [their] heads in shame’. The previous Conservative Education Secretary had also labelled the system ‘lose, lose, lose’.
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.”
Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North, said:
“Having spoken with constituents about this issue at length when on the doorstep or at my local surgeries it is brilliant to see this Labour government taking action on the SEND system.”
“This approach will break down barriers to opportunity for children with SEND and pave the way for wide-ranging reform informed by experts and families.”
“Labour will fix the foundations through our plan for change, that is desperately needed for residents in Portsmouth with experience of the current system.”
Last year, only 20% of pupils with SEND met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 level. Without the right support, children are falling behind their peers, impacting their future life chances.
The funding announced today forms part of a broader £6.7 billion capital settlement for education for the next financial year, announced at the Autumn Budget, which will be used to deliver this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances while fixing the foundations of the school system.
Allocations will be confirmed in the Spring, alongside the publication of guidance outlining how councils can use this investment to improve local mainstream provision.
Primary school marks some of the most formative years for children and is a crucial time for learning, building confidence and growing social skills.
Over time, over 30 local authorities have been supported to manage their high needs budgets through the Safety Valve programme. We will continue to work with those currently engaged in an active agreement to implement their planned improvements and will set out plans for a replacement programme as soon as possible, alongside wider plans to reform the SEND system.
We will continue to work with local authorities with Safety Valve agreements to deliver their plans.
Chair of the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group Professor Karen Guldberg said:
“Everybody should have access to high quality education, regardless of their needs or background, but we face a crisis in the SEND system.”
“I feel honoured to be leading a group of experts who are all committed to supporting the development of a more inclusive education system. We are wholeheartedly committed to co-production with those with lived experience and we will be consulting widely.”
“Our focus will be to advise and make recommendations regarding the best ways to support and meet the educational needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream settings.”
Confederation of School Trusts Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE said:
“There will always be a role for specialist schools, but very often pupils and families can benefit from high quality, effective support in a mainstream school, and increasing capacity for this will help children get the support they need more quickly.”
“There is consensus across trusts, local authorities, government, and, most importantly, families, that the current approach to SEND is not working. Fixing that will take time. This funding initiative has the potential to make a difference to children in our schools right now.”
Strategic Advisor on SEND to the Government Dame Christine Lenehan said:
“I welcome this as part of a really important programme of reform for children with SEND and their families. I look forward to talking to children, families and experts as we take this forward.”
