Estimates Day

Raises concerns about capacity within local authorities to conduct timely assessments for children with SEND.

Emphasises the importance of universal early identification of special needs and supports reintroduction of the Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill.

Asks for clarification on how the Government will allocate £105 million towards specialist SEND places across the country.

Requests updates on progress regarding the new Malvern-based autism free school, which aims to benefit children in Worcestershire and beyond.

Highlights local initiatives like the £70 million SEND provision opening in Cheadle and calls for more resource-based provisions and timely EHCP processes.

Stresses that supporting children with SEND is crucial not only for individual well-being but also for unlocking societal potential of neurodivergent individuals.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for calling me to make my maiden speech on this vital topic, which came up a lot during the campaign. It is a great honour to stand here as the new Labour MP for Wellingborough. I pledge to honour, protect and champion the rich tapestry of Wellingborough with every ounce of my being. The constituency consists of Wellingborough, Rushden, Higham Ferrers, Finedon, and picturesque villages. Key issues include cleanliness of high streets, highways, policing, access to education for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and healthcare. My family has a history deeply rooted in the armed forces and public service. I am committed to furthering the causes of charities like 'Off the Streets' knife crime campaign, Victoria Centre, Daylight Centre, and SERVE Rushden. In the coming months, you can expect me to promote our town centres and high streets, encouraging more tourists and Members to visit Irvin’s tea shop, Wine Chateau, Rushden & Diamonds football club, Ember restaurant in Wellingborough, La Estrella in Rushden, historic sites like Hind Hotel and Chichele College, and the internationally renowned Waendel Walk.

Congratulates the new Member for Wellingborough on her speech and campaign, acknowledges the work done by the Minister, emphasises the importance of early identification of special educational needs to prevent labelling and improve outcomes. He highlights specific examples such as dyslexia screening using technology, calls for universal screening in primary schools, and points out the correlation between neurodivergent conditions and school exclusions and prison populations.

Acknowledges the powerful point made by Matthew Hancock about school exclusions and their impact on young offenders, highlighting that a majority of young men in Feltham Young Offender Institution have special educational needs.

Suggests that the proposal for data transfer from primary to secondary schools has wider applications beyond special educational needs and can help manage transitions between different language-based curricula taught at primary and secondary levels.

The debate focuses on the insufficient funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which is impacting vulnerable children and their families. Wilson supports early diagnosis and labelling to better equip parents and teachers, though acknowledges it may not require additional funding. She commends the Chair of the Education Committee for securing this debate due to the urgency felt by many parents across the UK regarding SEND issues. Wilson highlights that 34 local authorities have safety-valve agreements with the Department for Education (DfE) and an additional 55 are involved in a programme aimed at delivering better value in SEND. She expresses concern over the statutory override, which allows local authorities to proceed with imbalanced budgets without requiring section 114 notices, despite its recent extension until March 2026. The speaker raises concerns about delays in building new special schools and the Government's poor track record on delivery of such promises. She also mentions a shortage of educational psychologists and speech and language therapists as well as issues with passporting statements of special needs across different nations within the UK, which she believes is nonsense at a time when resources are stretched. Wilson concludes by stating that the Government are failing to provide adequate support for children with SEND and encourages Ministers to listen to Back Benchers from their own party who have requested more funding.

Tom Hunt, a Labour MP representing Ipswich, praised the opening speeches about SEND and highlighted his personal experience with dyspraxia and dyslexia. He emphasised the importance of early diagnosis for neurodivergent individuals, arguing that understanding one's condition can transform challenges into assets. Hunt welcomed additional funding but felt it was not sufficient to address the critical issue of SEND adequately. He discussed the high proportion of his constituency cases related to SEND (50-60%) and mental health (20%). The MP also raised concerns about insufficient places in special schools, lack of training for teachers on neurodiversity, and the link between neurodivergence and crime rates. Hunt argued that investment in SEND is not just morally imperative but economically beneficial as it unlocks talent and ability among neurodiverse individuals.

Expressed pleasure in following earlier speakers and commended the debate's organisation. Emphasised significant funding increases for SEND, highlighting a new SENCO NVQ and expanded staff training initiatives. Critiqued the current SEND system for being too complex, with worse outcomes for children with SEND compared to their peers. Proposed better operationalisation of the process, recruitment of additional staff, and immediate financial support for building new schools now rather than in five years' time. Raised concerns about Labour's VAT policy on private schools impacting service families and those with special needs.

Highlights the rise in EHC plans since 2014, with a 7% increase in 2022. Mentions tribunal cases won by parents and carers due to inadequate support from local authorities. Discusses persistent school absences for children with SEND, attributing some absence to lack of tailored provision. Notes the substantial attainment gap compared to peers. Addresses financial strain on local authorities, leading to section 114 notices issued to balance budgets. Criticises the Government’s SEND and alternative provision review for its limited scope and delayed implementation. Welcomes funding for new special schools but calls for more details on their opening dates. Calls for better teacher training in addressing needs of children with additional requirements. Commits to improving speech and language support, embedding mental health support in every school, building a modern early education system, ensuring sufficient places for disabled children ahead of entitlement expansion.

The Government are making record investment in education with total schools revenue funding reaching over £60.7 billion this year, the highest level per pupil in history. High needs funding is increasing to more than £10.5 billion next year, a 60% increase since 2019-20. The Government are investing over £1.5 billion of high needs provision capital allocations for 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years. The department is also making an investment in new special free schools, with 108 currently open and another 77 approved to open. Funding for additional special free schools was recently announced, which will provide 30,000 more specialist places. The SEND and alternative provision system faces challenges but the Department has published a plan aiming to ensure every child receives appropriate support in the right place at the right time. Two main programmes are supporting local authorities: the safety valve programme (allocating nearly £900 million) and the delivering better value programme (£85 million). The Government are investing in training educational psychologists, doubling the capacity of supported internships, and deploying specialists to train mainstream primary schools under a new programme called PINS. Labour's plan to charge an additional 20% on special school fees is criticised as harmful for families struggling financially.

Asked the Minister to look at the urgent funding need in counties like Norfolk, where £40 million a year is spent moving children with special needs rather than on their education itself. He welcomed the announcement of two new special schools in Norfolk.

Asked for a meeting to understand the frameworks for teacher training and support for children with special educational needs more thoroughly.

Emphasised that this is ultimately about choice, stating parents should not be fiscally penalised for choosing where to send their children. He also warned against imposing VAT on school fees due to the potential impact on state schools.

Supported the Minister's comments while raising concerns about families with lower levels of additional needs struggling in mainstream schools. She argued that such parents should not be penalised for seeking better support elsewhere.

Emphasised the need to invest in special educational needs provision within mainstream schools, citing a need for further teacher training. She also mentioned that Labour's policy would bring in £1.3 billion according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which could be used to support children currently being failed by the Government.

Welcomed contributions from Members across the House and congratulated the hon. Member for Wellingborough on her maiden speech, emphasising the importance of increasing investment in special educational needs funding. He acknowledged the Minister's efforts and urged continued collaboration to secure further financial support from the Treasury.