Opened the debate
I am grateful for the opportunity to bring forward this debate. The Labour Government have inherited a broken system of special educational needs and disabilities provision, which has been under-invested in by 14 years of Tory governance. In Derbyshire, the county council demonstrates 'widespread and/or systemic failings' according to an Ofsted report published in November 2024. The SEND provision in Amber Valley is rated poor by 88% of respondents in a survey I conducted. This includes long waiting times, insufficient mainstream school provision, and problems obtaining EHCPs. Families are experiencing delays and inadequate support leading to missed education opportunities for their children. There has been systemic failure evidenced by the unspent SEND budget of £16 million over six years and the poor communication from Derbyshire County Council. My constituents face a daily struggle for timely assessments and care plans, with some resorting to legal challenges due to unmet needs and high costs.
Government Response
The Government acknowledge the challenges faced by families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We are committed to ensuring that every child receives the support they need, regardless of where they live. The Department for Education has already provided additional funding to local authorities including Derbyshire County Council to address some of these issues. This includes a £50 million investment specifically aimed at improving SEND provision across England. Moreover, we have launched a national review into waiting times for assessments and EHCPs, aiming to streamline processes and ensure timely interventions. We are also working closely with local authorities like Derbyshire to identify areas where additional support is needed and to address the systemic issues highlighted by Ofsted. The Government will continue to monitor progress in Derbyshire and provide necessary resources to help bring about meaningful change. The Government acknowledges the systemic issues highlighted, including the lack of consistency and communication failures. An improvement notice was issued on January 14th to address these concerns, prompting Derbyshire county council to develop a priority impact plan within two weeks. However, there is scepticism due to previous unfulfilled plans since 2018. The Government pledges to review SEND services across the country and has allocated an extra £1 billion towards improving SEND provision in the Budget. This funding aims to address systemic failings and support children with special educational needs more effectively. The Government recognises the ongoing challenges in SEND provision across Derbyshire. We are working closely with local authorities to improve services, including providing additional funding for school places, enhancing training for staff, and promoting collaboration between education, health, and social care providers. The Department has also launched a review of SEND policies and practices to address systemic failures identified by Ofsted reports. While there is more work to be done, we are committed to ensuring that all children with special educational needs receive the support they need. The Minister acknowledged the importance of improving the special educational needs and disabilities system across England, expressing a commitment to ensuring all children receive appropriate support. She highlighted that over 1.6 million children in England have SEND, with an increasing number requiring support each year. The minister noted that recent inspections of Derbyshire County Council's SEND provision revealed significant failings, necessitating urgent action from the local area partnership. She emphasised ongoing efforts to reform and improve the SEND system through initiatives such as appointing a strategic adviser on SEND and establishing expert advisory groups. The Government are committed to working with education sector leaders, practitioners, children, families, and partners to ensure better support systems. The minister addressed specific concerns raised by MPs regarding funding, inspections, and timelines for EHCPs (Education Health Care Plans), acknowledging delays in issuing plans within statutory timeframes but committing to improving response times and the overall process for parents and young people seeking support. We acknowledge the challenges families face when securing support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The Department is committed to working with Derbyshire county council, school leaders, and sector partners to improve inclusive education within mainstream settings. £740 million of high needs capital has been announced for 2025-26 to create new places in both mainstream and special schools. We are determined to utilise the available space efficiently to provide specialist places where needed. The Government will continue to monitor progress closely with a SEND adviser appointed by the Department for Education, working collaboratively with NHS England’s adviser to challenge and support Derbyshire county council and the integrated care board in driving improvements. Despite current challenges, we remain confident that with determination, we can deliver better outcomes for children and young people with SEND.