I am delighted my party has called for a new national agency for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
We have listened to parents, communities, and councils, and it is clear the current system is broken.
This new ‘National Body for SEND’ would take responsibility for supporting children with the most complex needs.
It would pay any costs above a certain threshold, helping to end the current postcode lottery that is leaving parents in many areas struggling to access the support their child needs.
“No child, or their family, should have to wait so long or fight so hard to have their needs met”
The extra funding would be determined by the child’s current needs, with the new body also overseeing SEND funding to ensure it is spent as effectively as possible to support each child.
Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed stark regional disparities in education, health and care plans (EHCPs) – legal documents that set out the tailored support a child needs.
By law, EHCPs must be issued within 20 weeks of a request for assessment, but in 2022 only 49.2 per cent of children received their plans within the 20-week limit.
My parliamentary colleague, Munira Wilson MP, and Essex colleague, Cllr Marie Goldman, have been at the forefront of our campaign.
The Government has woefully underfunded both schools and local authorities, meaning that many parents simply can’t get their children the support they deserve. That is unacceptable.
No child, or their family, should have to wait so long or fight so hard to have their needs met.