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SEND Provision: South-east England
15 July 2025
Lead MP
Mike Martin
Tunbridge Wells
LD
Responding Minister
Catherine McKinnell
Tags
Education
Word Count: 14400
Other Contributors: 25
At a Glance
Mike Martin raised concerns about send provision: south-east england in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government must listen to the voices of children and families to understand the system's shortcomings. Proper provision for children with SEND is crucial not only economically but morally right.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
In Kent, more than 21,000 children have an education, health and care plan—that is 14% above the national average. As a result of rising demand and mismanagement by the previous administration, there was a SEND overspend in a recent year of nearly £100 million. Only 13% of EHCPs were completed within the statutory 20-week deadline, leading to Kent being put into special measures.
Alison Bennett
Con
Mid Sussex
Describes the broken system in Mid Sussex leading to exhaustion of parents, bankrupting councils, and demoralising teachers. Questions the Government on long-term funding solutions for SEND provision. Comments on the debate and reforms.
Newcastle North
Responded to concerns raised about accountability, highlighting ongoing reviews and challenges in SEND provision. Mentioned an increase of over 630,000 children with EHCPs.
Chris Ward
Lab
Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven
Discussed high rates of SEND support in his constituency, called for mandatory SEND training for teachers, parental voice enhancement, and cultural change in how Government approaches SEND. Comments on the debate and reforms.
Al Pinkerton
LD
Surrey Heath
Highlighted the significant number of SEND cases in Surrey and criticized Surrey county council for issuing incorrect EHCPs and hiding tribunal appeal data. Raised concerns about the economic cost to parents and teachers, noting a hidden SEND deficit of almost £5 billion across England.
Beccy Cooper
Lab
Worthing West
The crisis in SEND provision is linked to the broader issues of health and social care. In West Sussex, there has been little collaboration between the local education authority and the integrated care system.
Chambers
LD
Winchester
Wishes the Minister well in her reforms.
Cooper
Lab
Worthing West
Comments on the debate and reforms.
Winchester
Discussed the difficulties in getting a diagnosis for conditions like ADHD and autism, highlighting delays of more than two years which affect children's educational development. Mentioned that undiagnosed conditions can lead to mental health issues such as stress and anxiety.
Lauren Sullivan
Lab
Gravesham
Dr Lauren Sullivan raised concerns that we have sleepwalked into a crisis in terms of listening to the needs of young people and parents, asking for assurance on a lawful system with support given at the right time.
Emphasised the opacity of governance structures and supported fair funding guarantees and ringfenced central support for children with special educational needs.
Gregory Stafford
Party Unknown
Constituency Unknown
Discusses 98 cases of SEND in his constituency, with families spending over £10,000 on tribunals. Calls for ringfenced funding to expand specialist places, guidance to reduce the cost of solo SEND transport. Disagreed with pitting state sector against independent sector, emphasized the need for national changes to make system fair and equitable. Comments on the debate and reforms.
James MacCleary
Con
Lewes
Families in East Sussex are facing desperate situations, with children forced to travel long distances for school due to a lack of local provision. There is an urgent need for investment in specialist and mainstream education and teacher training. Comments on the debate and reforms.
Jim Dickson
Lab
Dartford
Agrees that the problems in Kent indicate a broken system, requiring substantial increase in pace and resources to ensure proper provision following assessment.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Supported the concerns raised about the transformation programme and funding cuts affecting SEND provision in Northern Ireland, highlighting the difficulties faced by teachers. Comments on the debate and reforms.
John Milne
Lab
Horsham
Highlighted the crisis extending beyond SEND into mainstream schooling, pointed out poor performance of West Sussex council on EHCP deadlines, shared a case study of Graci and urged for meaningful intervention. Wishes the Minister well in her reforms.
Aylesbury
Highlights the urgent need for reform in the SEND system due to families, teachers, heads, councils being let down. Emphasises funding for adaptations and training for mainstream schools. Comments on the debate and reforms.
Lauren Edwards
Lab
Rochester and Strood
In Rochester and Strood, SEND is the second main reason why constituents contact me. Parents face years-long waits for a diagnosis and excessive delays in EHCP finalisation, often beyond legal deadlines. Comments on the debate and reforms.
Esher and Walton
Asked if fixing a financial problem by giving away rights is the right approach, highlighting that EHCPs are crucial protection for many children. Questions whether money should be put into state schools rather than independent schools which are often run by private equity firms making profit from local authorities. Noted that in Surrey alone, 1,800 children with special educational needs are missing education due to a lack of provision, leading to poor mental health outcomes. Asked about measuring accountability in schools where fees of over £130,000 per year have been charged.
Billington
Con
East Thanet
Comments on the debate and reforms.
Polly Billington
Lab
East Thanet
Described the crisis in SEND provision in Kent county, citing poor communication and delays in getting EHCPs. She also highlighted ongoing chaos in the council administration.
Peter Swallow
Con
Bracknell
Comments on the debate and reforms.
Rebecca Paul
Con
Reigate
The hon. Member for Reigate spoke about the current challenges in the SEND system but was surprised by what appeared to be amnesia regarding the inherited record from previous administrations.
Sojan Joseph
Lab
Ashford
Concerns raised about Reform administration’s plans cutting transport for vulnerable children, highlighting unacceptable practice of bringing in external agencies without proper communication with residents.
Steve Darling
SNP
Dunfermline and West Fife
A recent Ofsted report identified widespread failings in SEND provision in Torbay. One example is a decision delayed until the day before GCSEs, causing significant distress to the student. Asked for reassurance on how the Minister is holding health services accountable. Wishes the Minister well in her reforms.
Tristan Osborne
Con
Chatham and Aylesford
Highlights the communications exercise around SEND transport budget cuts causing fear among residents across Margate, Maidstone and Tonbridge, urging the need for a proper plan from the council. Comments on the debate and reforms.
Government Response
Catherine McKinnell
The Minister for School Standards
Government Response
Catherine McKinnell congratulates Mike Martin on securing this debate about an important subject and acknowledges that improving the SEND system is a priority. She highlights the challenges inherited from previous governments and the immediate action taken upon her government's entry to improve education outcomes for children with special needs. The Minister assures parents, carers, and young people of improvements in support and protection of existing effective provisions while engaging actively with stakeholders ahead of publishing the schools White Paper in autumn. Emphasised the importance of partnership and accountability between local authorities and health services. Described measures such as Ofsted inspections, SEND advisers in various areas, and additional funding allocations to increase capacity in the system.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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.