Tom Gordon MP has called on the Government to guarantee the funding and resources needed to make SEND reform work, warning that without proper investment, families will be “let down again”.
Responding to the Government’s SEND White Paper, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP said reform is long overdue, but Minister’s must go further to revive the system. This must be backed by clear financial commitments to local authorities and schools already at breaking point.
In North Yorkshire the cost of SEND provision has come under increasing pressure, while Nationwide, local authority spending on private SEND provision has soared.
In Harrogate and Knaresborough SEND schools are at capacity and the long overdue specialist school at the Bilton Woodfield site is still yet to open, despite Tom’s persistent efforts. Parents report that EHCPs continue to not be met, and there are lengthy delays and gruelling battles to secure them in the first place.
Tom is supporting Liberal Democrat calls for a variety of measures to revive the system. This includes an 8% cap on profits for special private schools, for SEND schools to be given Critical National Infrastructure status and the introduction of better early intervention, including universal screening for SEND.
Tom is hosting an event for parents and carers of SEND children and SEND practitioners in March to discuss any feedback or concerns on this whitepaper. He encourages anyone interested in attending to get in touch directly.
Commenting, Tom said:
The outlined proposals are outrageous and a slap in the face to parents and children with SEND. Families who have fought for years to secure basic support for their children deserve clarity and reassurance, not uncertainty about whether hard-won rights will be stripped away.
Reform of our broken special educational needs and disabilities system is long overdue. But the devil will be in the detail. Any changes must be properly resourced with the people and funding required, and trust must be rebuilt with parents who are fearful of losing the support their children rely on.
I have listened to so many families fighting a losing battle just to secure the most basic provision. This is too important to get wrong. We cannot ask parents to put their faith in another round of reform unless it is backed by real money, real capacity, and real accountability.
