This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition More Funding For SEN Children To Access Appropriate School Provisions
Changes need to be made so more funding is available for schools and local authorities to offer better provisions for SEN children, especially those who do not fit the criteria for special needs EMS/mainstream schools. So no other child falls through the system.
More details
Recently my daughter has been refused access to all local schools. Special schools are not right for her, but she is too high need for EMS and mainstream. So where does she go - we have a gap in the system for some children.
More special needs provisions are needed for children who may not have a learning disability, and just need to learn in a different way. We need more funding in local authorities so children like my daughter are given the best shot at an education like any other child.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Related activity
Share your views on Government's plans to improve support for children and young people with SEND
The Government has launched a public consultation on major changes it wants to make to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) system in England.
It wants to hear from:
- Children and young people
- Parents and carers
- People who work in the SEND sector
- Local and national system leaders
Find out more about the consultation and share your views: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-review-right-support-right-place-right-time
You can respond until 11.45pm on Friday 1 July 2022.
What changes is the Government planning to make?
The Government says that it plans to create a "single, national SEND and alternative provision (AP) system that will introduce new standards in the quality of support give to children across education, health and care".
The proposed changes include:
- Improving workforce training through the introduction of a new SENCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator) NPQ for school SENCos
- Increasing the number of staff with level 3 qualifications in early years settings
- A new legal requirement for councils to introduce 'local inclusion plans' that set out responsibility for young people with SEND among local services
The Government has announced additional funding to implement these proposals.
Find out more about the changes the Government is proposing: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ambitious-reform-for-children-and-young-people-with-send
Read a summary of the Government's SEND review: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-and-ap-green-paper-responding-to-the-consultation/summary-of-the-send-review-right-support-right-place-right-time
MPs questions Secretary of State for Education about the review
On Tuesday 29 March, the Government Minister responsible for education, Nadhim Zahawi MP, made a statement to the House of Commons about the review and consultation, and was questioned about this by MPs.
Read what he said and questions from MPs: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-03-29/debates/BA5ECF7C-E120-4602-8BCF-6DB70D9CFF40/SpecialEducationalNeedsAndDisabilitiesReview
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://parliament.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3ad7e4c57a864f07e4db008c4&id=26d0645ea9
MPs discuss SEND and alternative provision improvement plan
On Monday 6 March the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho MP, made a statement in the House of Commons about the Government's new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan.
The Minister updated MPs on the Government's progress to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or alternative provision in England.
She said the Government will:
- Develop new national special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision standards to set out what support should be available.
- Establish local SEND and AP partnerships.
- Train thousands more early years special educational needs co-ordinators and 400 more educational psychologists.
- Invest £2.6 billion by 2025 in new special and alternative provision places, and improve provision.
- Publish guidance on ensuring effective transitions between all stages of education, and an effective transition into employment and adult services.
- Invest in supported internships.
- Expand school and college mental health support teams.
Following the statement the Minister was questioned by MPs.
- Read the press release announcing the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan
- Read the full SEND and alternative provision improvement plan
What are Ministerial statements?
Ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the House.
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Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.
Share your experiences: SEND workforce
On Wednesday 22 March, Geraint Davies MP will lead a debate in Parliament on the specialist workforce for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
To inform the debate, he would like to hear about your experiences of accessing SEND specialists. He would also like to hear from anyone who has worked with people with SEND. He may quote your contribution directly during his debate.
Find out more and share your experiences with him by midday on Tuesday 21 March:
Education and health policy are devolved matters, so the UK Government is only responsible for these policy areas in England, but he is interested in hearing from people across the UK.
Videos of the debate, the transcript of what was said in it, and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate on this webpage.
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'. This means that Westminster debates don’t end in a vote on a particular action or decision.
SEND provision and funding debated by MPs
On Thursday 11 January, Sir David Davis MP led a Backbench Business debate in Parliament on SEND provision and funding.
Along with other MPs, he spoke about the many people who have signed petitions on the issue.
He also quoted those who had shared their experiences to help inform previous debates on SEND provision and funding.
Watch or read the debate – and see the Government's response – on SEND provision and funding
What are Backbench Business debates?
Backbench Business debates give backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) an opportunity to secure a debate on a topic of their choice, either in the main House of Commons Chamber or Westminster Hall, the second chamber of the House of Commons.
MPs can make a request for a debate to the Backbench Business Committee, who hears requests and decides which debates to schedule.
Backbench debates can either be general debates (which do not end in a vote) or be on a substantive motion (which calls for an action and can end in a vote). This debate was a debate on a substantive motion.
Interactive explainer: Backbench Business debates
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MPs debate school attendance and SEND
On Tuesday 23 January, MPs took part in a Westminster Hall debate on school attendance.
The debate was led by Vicky Ford MP, and Education Minister Robert Halfon MP responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.
MPs discussed the context for increased levels of persistent absence, including provision for special educational needs and disabilities.
What is a Westminster Hall debate?
Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.
SEND provision: Government announces investment in Spring Budget
On Wednesday 6 March, the Chancellor announced that the Government would be investing £105 million over the next four years to build 15 new special free schools. He said that this investment will create over 2,000 additional places for children with special educational needs and disabilities across England. The locations of these special free schools will be announced by May 2024.
The investment was announced as part of the Spring Budget.
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