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SEND Provision: Kent
12 November 2025
Lead MP
Tony Vaughan
Folkestone and Hythe
Lab
Responding Minister
Georgia Gould
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Word Count: 9898
Other Contributors: 11
At a Glance
Tony Vaughan raised concerns about send provision: kent in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The government is urged to consult on wholesale changes to the SEND system and prioritise funding for educational opportunities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Children in Folkestone and Hythe are being failed by the SEND system run by Reform UK. Parents receive outdated paperwork that does not reflect current needs, schools cannot meet children's needs due to lack of resources, families face delays in drawing up EHCPs, and some children have been driven to despair.
Caroline Voaden
Con
South Devon
She highlighted similar issues in Devon with delays and mistakes in EHCPs, stating that more than 20,000 children in Kent have an EHCP. She noted improvements but also pointed out quality issues despite the increase in meeting deadlines. Raised concerns about the urgency and need for reform, emphasizing the importance of working with families to ensure a system that allows young people to thrive.
Clive Jones
LD
Wokingham
Families in Wokingham face similar difficulties in obtaining appropriate SEND provision, with workforce shortages being a significant issue. Constituents call for fast-tracked training pathways and incentives to retain specialist staff.
Daniel Francis
Lab
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Asks the Minister to look at cross-borough basis reforms for children who live in one borough but use schools in another due to systemic failings.
Lauren Sullivan
Lab
Gravesham
Asked about the previous Government's safety valve scheme and whether they had a plan for repaying the money, highlighting concerns over local authority solvency. Asked about the improvement plan and ongoing scrutiny to ensure constituents are informed.
Georgia Gould
Lab
Camden North Central
Committed to writing to MPs with more details on scrutiny, discussed curriculum enrichment for inclusion.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Calls for a different approach to SEND due to increasing demand and complexity of needs, highlighting similar issues in Northern Ireland.
Kevin McKenna
Lab
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Local schools are being turned down by Kent county council despite their willingness to accommodate SEND children, leading to long commutes for these children.
Nigel Farage
Ind
Clacton
Proposed removing home-to-school transport funding for some families with special educational needs.
Saqib Bhatti
Lab
Meriden and Solihull East
Mentioned the need for free schools in Kent and asked about specific initiatives being taken by the government.
Sojan Joseph
Lab
Ashford
Regularly contacted by parents concerned about SEND education provision. Organised meetings with school headteachers and staff from charity Differences Not Disabilities, who discussed difficulties securing suitable education for their children. Raised the issue of high costs related to providing home-to-school transport for SEND students in Kent.
Tony Vaughan
Con
Chippenham
Acknowledged similar problems faced in Kent, questioned the correctness of lifting improvement measures, and emphasized maintaining legal protections in SEND system changes.
Government Response
Georgia Gould
The Minister for School Standards
Government Response
Acknowledged the concerns raised and assured that the Government is committed to working with families. Mentioned a £740 million capital investment including £24 million allocated to Kent county council, ongoing work on inclusion within the school system, and reinvesting in early intervention through Best Start hubs.
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Assessment & feedback
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.