Pupils and parents are being failed by SEND support crisis

Responding to the publication today (23/10/19) of the Education Select Committee's report on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Brentwood & Ongar David Kendall said:

"Children with SEND have borne the brunt of the schools funding crisis. Teaching assistants and other support staff have been sacked. Meanwhile, parents struggle to get the support their child needs as schools, healthcare providers and local councils squabble over who should pay.

"The Conservatives have left local councils floundering. Councils cannot provide support on time and are unable to to create the new specialist school places that some children with the most complex needs require.

"Liberal Democrats demand better for our children. We will give councils thousands of pounds a year extra for every child with the most complex needs, so they can deliver the support children deserve on time and we will create a new National SEND strategy, stopping councils from cutting corners and getting our public services to work in the best interests of each child".