Supporting children with SEND, Crawley Observer Column, Wednesday 25th February 2025

People contact their MPs for many reasons, but if there is one thing which has been raised at my regular surgeries more than any other it is the need for more support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Crawley is blessed with fantastic schools and dedicated teachers who want to do the best for every child. Yet, for years the numbers of pupils with SEND has been rising far above what the current system was designed to support. Schools no longer have capacity to meet SEND demands and it’s pushing education authorities to the brink of bankruptcy.

It has been clear for some time the current system is failing children and will collapse without Government action, but for 14 years the Conservatives dragged their heels. On Monday, the wait ended when the new Government set out proposals for SEND reform and opened them to consultation.

Rather than forcing parents to fight for support, we will make SEND provision mainstream, with every SEND pupil having Individual Support Plans and staff trained to ensure their needs are met, drawing upon the latest evidence. The fabric of mainstream schools will be transformed to meet SEND requirements, drawing upon a new £1.6bn fund, with every school benfiting from a new ‘inclusion base’.

There will also be more specialist places, backed by a £3.7bn investment, and an ‘Experts at Hand’ service providing wrap around support for the full range of SEND health and care needs.

While the goal is to build a mainstream system where EHCPs are no longer needed, EHCPs will remain until the new system is complete, with no transition from EHCPs before 2030 and children allowed to complete their current school under their EHCP.

I know there are parents and guardians who have spent years fighting for their child for whom any change will be a source of worry. While I believe the proposals will build a system which delivers for far more pupils than current arrangements, I would encourage anyone who is worried to read the proposals, respond to the consultation and let me know of your concerns.