Hitchin MP to host SEND Q&A events

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

MONDAY 21^st JULY 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alistair Strathern, the MP for the Hitchin constituency, will host two dedicated Q&A events on SEND in August, providing parents and students an opportunity to raise concerns and share experiences.

Strathern will then write to the Education Secretary to feed back, and use the testimony in his ongoing work with Central Beds Council and Herts County Council (CBC and HCC).

These events are open forums aimed at listening directly to families, students, and carers about their experiences navigating the SEND system.

Across the country, SEND provision is in an unacceptable state. The situation is especially acute in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

As a former teacher and children’s services lead at a council, Strathern has been campaigning for years now on the SEND crisis. He has chaired Westminster debates on SEND issues in Beds and Herts, visited dozens of schools and runs a SEND forum with HCC and Herts MPs.

Event details:

Bedfordshire SEND Q&A

Arlesey Village Hall10:30am – 12:00pm, August 26^th 2025

Hertfordshire SEND Q&A

Highover School, Hitchin3:00pm – 4:30pm, August 26^th 2025

Alistair Strathern MP said:

"From extremely-long waits for assessments to very-limited special school places, too many families and young people face exhausting battles just to get the support they are entitled to.

“I want to hear directly from those affected, so we can work together to make the system fairer, faster and more supportive.

“Whether it's challenges with EHCPs or school placements, I want to listen and take your concerns to Westminster."

Notes for Editors

You can see attached a graphic advertising the two upcoming events in August