Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Adam Thompson Excerpts
Thursday 24th October 2024

(4 days, 11 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Catherine McKinnell Portrait Catherine McKinnell
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The hon. Gentleman is right that the NAO has identified that the system is currently unsustainable, and not only is it financially unsustainable but it is not sustainable for the children and their families that are being let down. The Government are determined to fix this and are working at pace to do so.

Adam Thompson Portrait Adam Thompson (Erewash) (Lab)
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A whole 10% of my constituency casework relates to SEND provision, so I recently issued a public letter to Conservative-led Derbyshire county council expressing my deep concern over the state of its provision as many affected families feel voiceless. What steps will the Government take to ensure that councils, including Derbyshire county council, actually fulfil their responsibilities to children and families?

Catherine McKinnell Portrait Catherine McKinnell
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Councils are at the forefront of seeking to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, and they are being let down by a system that is broken and that the NAO shows is completely unsustainable. So we will work at pace in government, working with teachers, parents, schools, school support staff, the health service and local authorities to ensure that children get the opportunities they deserve.