I’m grateful to the Daily Echo for providing space for a regular column, where I give my ‘view from Westminster’ and provide Echo readers with an update on my campaigns and news from across Southampton Itchen.
In case you missed it, here’s my latest column, which was published in the Echo last Friday.
The many people I meet at my surgeries and coffee mornings come with a wide range of issues. And while no two cases are ever the same, it’s the topic of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) that is among the most frequent that people want to discuss with me.
The education and experiences that our children have today are what will shape our society tomorrow. Yet it’s sadly clear from these conversations that the current system is letting down children and young people with additional needs in our city, and across the country. I’ve spent hours talking to families who are simply exhausted from battling a system that they feel opposes them, rather than supports them. And as a proud SEND parent myself, and someone who has been involved with education in Southampton for many years, I share the frustration that academic outcomes and life chances for children with additional needs have barely improved while the number of EHCPs has soared.
So the new vision for schools and education for SEND children announced by the government this week is a long-awaited response to this cry for change. And while I know that any change can be unsettling for parents, carers and children, there is a lot to welcome in these proposals. Put simply, they lay the foundations for an ambitious transformation that gets the balance right between inclusion, where children with SEND are educated in mainstream schools, and specialist provision, which will always be needed to meet some children’s needs.
The evidence is clear that SEND children who are educated in inclusive mainstream schools are twice as likely to find employment and live independent lives, but the success of this depends on proper resourcing. So I welcome the billions of pounds of extra investment to make the mainstream system more inclusive, provide more SEND support for children, a national SEND staff training programme, and improved early support in Best Start Family Hubs. These extra resources will transform the lives and opportunities for children with SEND in our city in the years to come.
Of course there are understandably a variety of feelings about these proposals and the future of SEND education; many cannot wait for the new system to get going, while others have questions and concerns. I’m keen to hear from families, those who work with SEND children, and of course the young people themselves, and I’ll share details soon about events where you can share your feedback with me directly. In the meantime, the government’s consultation on the proposals is now open online, so please have your say and share your experiences.
On the subject of education, I was pleased to have the opportunity recently to visit two schools where I could see the difference this Labour government is making. At Hightown Primary School there was a lot of excitement for the government-funded free breakfast club that will open soon, and, the following week at Valentine Primary School I joined staff for a tour of their new school-based nursery, which has been made possible by significant investment from the Department for Education.
As ever, if there is anything I can help with, please email [email protected]. And keep an eye on my website or newsletter for details of my future coffee mornings and ‘Pint with your MP’ sessions. I hope to see some of you there!