Across Croydon, teachers and families have been working hard to meet children’s needs. However, the current Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system – designed ten years ago for a small number of children - is broken. Labour is undoing the failures of the previous government, transforming the SEND system to ensure every child has their needs met.
Croydon Council is set to receive £5.5 million in additional funding for high-need SEND provision. This will help expand special school placements, as well as provide more specialist facilities in mainstream schools.
Strengthening local provision is essential to ensure support is easier to access. Teachers will also benefit from a £200 million investment for additional training, helping ensure support is provided in early years settings and to a higher standard.
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Schools will also be better equipped with specialised support through the new “Experts at Hand” service. This will expand speech and language therapy into schools without the need for formal assessments, meaning children can receive the support they need quickly and close to home.
Children will have a right to be included in their local schools, and this government is taking steps to make education more accessible. This will be backed by £1.6 billion in new funding over the next three years to ensure schools and colleges have the means to deliver an inclusive curriculum. The introduction of a National Inclusions Standard will also keep schools accountable and set out clear expectations for learning.
I have witnessed the excessive bureaucracy around Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and the delays parents frequently face. That’s why I welcome the digitalisation of EHCPs to streamline this process and the introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs). Schools will be legally required to provide ISPs which will draw from national frameworks as well as teachers and specialists who know the child well. Work will continue to improve EHCPs, but ISPs will set out support that will be easily available without a fight.
I fully understand changes will take time. However, I believe we are heading in the right direction. We must end the one-size-fits all approach towards education and create a SEND system parents feels works for them, not against them.
These changes will continue to be carefully considered in consultation with experts, teachers and parents who understand the current challenges first-hand.
Delivering a better future for the next generation is why I came into politics, and I am so proud of the change our Labour government is bringing.
- Natasha Irons is Labour MP for Croydon East.
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