Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Vince Excerpts

Monday 14th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Lab)]

22. What progress her Department has made on ensuring that schools have access to high-quality training to support pupils with SEND.

[Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)]

25. What steps her Department is taking to ensure that schools have access to specialist expertise in SEND.

[The Minister for School Standards (Georgia Gould)]

This Government are investing £1.8 billion over three years to deliver the Experts At Hand service, which will give mainstream settings access to health and education specialists for SEND. We will also deliver new SEND and inclusion training courses and materials as part of a £200 million investment for teachers, leaders and support staff.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Vince]

I speak to parents, young people and teachers in my constituency all the time about the need for SEND reform. One of my best friends is a special educational needs co-ordinator, and he often tells me how broken he and his colleagues are after battling this broken SEND system for so long. Will the Minister ensure that the SEND reforms cater for all the young people in Harlow who need them, and that they will make being a SENCO an attractive proposition again?

[Georgia Gould]

I really appreciate that question. I have talked to SENCOs around the country, and I know how much pressure they are under and how often they feel that they have to go into battle for the children they support. They play a critical role, and they need more support. Inclusion has to be the business of the entire school, not just one individual. We are determined to support them.