Oral Answers to Questions

Lewis Cocking Excerpts

Monday 27th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

8. What steps her Department is taking to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

[Lewis Cocking (Broxbourne) (Con)]

10. What steps her Department is taking to improve special educational needs provision.

[Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)]

12. What progress she has made on improving support for children with SEND.

--- Later in debate ---

[Catherine McKinnell]

The hon. Gentleman asks an important question, and we absolutely need to see a more inclusive mainstream system with an education, health and care plan process that gets children with special educational needs and disabilities the support they need. By doing so, we will improve the mainstream inclusivity of our schools. As I have outlined, we have allocated capital funding for that, but we are looking at reforms on a range of levels to ensure that children can be educated in their local community as far as is possible.

[Lewis Cocking]

I draw attention to my declaration in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Since I was elected, I have heard countless times from parents across Broxbourne that the special educational needs system is too difficult to navigate and all too often just does not work. What action is the Minister taking to improve the confidence of parents in the SEN system?

[Catherine McKinnell]

I recognise the story that the hon. Gentleman tells. Indeed, it is told by many families up and down the country. He should recognise that this legacy was left by the last Conservative Government for many families and many children, letting them down. We are working incredibly hard to reform our system with a curriculum and assessment review, with capital investment and by working with local authorities to improve the education, health and care plan process and the timeliness of assessments. We will continue to do that to clean up the mess.