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Alistair Strathern

Hitchin MP presses Prime Minister on local SEND provision crisis

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Labour MP for Hitchin, Alistair Strathern, today raised the devastating state of provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire schools.


Strathern laid bare the crisis in SEND provision to the Prime Minister, referencing the testimonies he’s received from exasperated parents and young people in Herts and Beds.

 

As a longstanding campaign on SEND issues in Parliament, Strathern welcomed recent announcements from the Government of £1bn extra funding for SEND in the Budget, and measures from the Education Secretary to boost inclusion in mainstream schools, but pushed the PM to ensure the Government does not shy away from the whole system reform needed.

 

In reply, the PM committed to ensuring that Government follows through with the funding and reform needed to ensure every child gets the support they need, and fix the broken SEND system inherited by the new government.

 

Locally in the meantime, Strathern has convened a cross party group of MPs to hold Hertfordshire council to account on their SEND improvement plan, following a damming Ofsted report into the state of local provision last year.

 

Commenting, Alistair Strathern MP said:

“Not a week goes by without a desperate family writing to my office to share a devastating testimony of a SEND provision system that’s failing them.

 

“Every child deserves to reach their full potential, but for so many children with SEND in Herts and Central Bedfordshire, this simply isn’t the reality.

 

“At the heart of this issue are the thousands of children being failed, with their parents driven to despair. It’s unacceptable.

 

“Our new Labour government is cause for hope that this crisis is finally being taken seriously, including through a much-needed increase in funding for the SEND services that families rely on. I was pleased to hear from the Prime Minister today that fixing the broken SEND system is a priority for this government.”

 

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Notes to Editors:

You can watch the exchange here.

 

The budget recently announced £1 billion for SEND provision, see here.

 

Off the back of a join letter, Alistair recently secured quarterly meetings with Hertfordshire County Council on SEND provision, in a bid to improve accountability and transparency on the issues local families are facing. See here.

 

Alistair held a Westminster Hall Debate on this issue on 4 September 2024, see here.

 

Before being elected an MP, Alistair worked as a maths teacher and held the children’s services cabinet portfolio as a Councillor.

 

In Labour’s manifesto, the party pledged to prioritise SEND provision, noting: Too often our education and care systems do not meet the needs of all children, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Labour will take a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. We will make sure admissions decisions account for the needs of communities and require all schools to co-operate with their local authority on school admissions, SEND inclusion, and place planning. See here.

 

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