Earlier this week, I joined my constituent, Rachel, who created the petition, to hand it in to the Prime Minister. The petition, signed by 130,000 people, calls for the protection of legal assessments and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
I understand that the delay to the publication of the government’s SEND White Paper, alongside media speculation about what it may contain, is understandably causing significant anxiety for parents and carers. That is why I have been getting out ahead of this issue – listening to local families and relaying your concerns directly to the highest levels of government.
Today, I wrote to the Department for Education calling for certainty that the upcoming White Paper will not reduce legal entitlements for children and families. Since being elected as your MP, this has been a top priority for my office – here is just some of the work I’ve done:
Following the government’s decision to delay the SEND White Paper last November, I wrote to ministers calling for interim support for Poole families.
I led a letter signed by over 20 MPs calling for improvements to SEND transport services.
I organised a SEND forum in Poole, bringing families together with charities and support organisations – giving parents the opportunity to share their experiences with me directly.
This is an ongoing issue and one I will continue to treat as a major priority. We all know the system is broken – families are too often forced to battle for support that is delayed or inadequate. Reform must be about improving services, restoring trust, and ensuring children with SEND are supported to reach their full potential.
