STRATFORD MP Manuela Perteghella has backed a rescue plan tor SEND provision in schools.
Dr Perteghella, along with her fellow Liberal Democrats, are pushing for “drastic” reform of the special educational needs system and are calling for decisive action to end the SEND crisis for good.
A motion, which was passed overwhelmingly by members at the party’s Spring Conference in Harrogate, contains a raft of policies including measures to improve inclusion of SEND students in mainstream schools – by introducing mandatory SEND training for all teachers and education professionals.
Dr Perteghella added that council budgets had been “stretched beyond their limits” due to the neglect of the last Conservative government.
The Liberal Democrats are also calling for the acceleration of state-funded special needs schools to rapidly increase capacity in schools for children with SEND. Sixty-seven specialist schools are currently stuck in planning delays, holding up plans to boost capacity in state educational settings.
Currently, many children with special educational needs are unable to access the right education for them due to a widespread lack of provision. This often leads to children travelling long distances to special schools, or being sent to expensive private providers while council budgets are stretched to their limit.
In Warwickshire, families are experiencing long delays in securing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and many children are travelling across county boundaries to access appropriate schooling. Local campaigners have highlighted repeated funding shortfalls and delays in delivering new SEND school places.
Dr Perteghella said: “I have spoken to countless parents who are desperate to get their child the education they deserve. Far too many families are forced to fight long battles for the education their child deserves.
“The Conservative Government neglected our education system and caused an absolute crisis in special needs provision — failing children, parents and teachers, and stretching council budgets beyond their limits. Now we need to see real, urgent action from Labour.
“Families deserve far better — which is why we’ve launched our new calls to fix the crisis this weekend. The Liberal Democrats will continue to carry the torch for children let down by government after government.”
