Off the Fence with Amanda Martin MP: SEND Reform
I want to begin by thanking everyone who has been in touch with me about special educational needs and disabilities support. I am grateful for every conversation, every email, and every story shared. Your voices have shaped my understanding of what’s happening in Portsmouth, and will shape what comes next.
I keep hearing the same message: the SEND system is not working as it should. Too many parents have been pushed into long and stressful battles for support, and too many children have missed out because help arrived too late or not at all.
As someone who taught locally for many years, I know how damaging this has been. The previous Tory government left us with what their own Education Secretary called a “lose lose lose” system, and our city has felt the impact.
I’m proud that this Labour government is taking action. I was pleased to welcome our Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, to Portsmouth last week as she launched a national conversation on SEND. She spent time listening to young people, teachers, charities and school leaders, so local lived experience can feed into the reforms ahead.
Since coming into government, Labour has already invested an extra £1 billion into high needs budgets, along with £740 million to adapt classrooms, but funding alone is not enough. Real change depends on listening to families and building a fair system that works for them.
I want to be clear that the legal rights of children with SEND will remain. Support is not being taken away. What we are seeking to change is the unfair and exhausting bureaucracy that forces parents to fight at every stage while children wait months or years for help.
This summer I held a joint event with Stephen Morgan MP to hear from those for whom SEND support is vital, hearing powerful examples of the challenges and the successes in our city. I will be holding a second event on January 16 so residents can continue to feed directly into this work.
Look out for the invitation and do come along. You can also complete the national consultation online, or contact my office to share your views. I will ensure Portsmouth voices are heard as Ministers prepare the Schools White Paper.
Every child in our city deserves the chance to thrive, and together we can help make that happen.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-national-conversation-on-send