Speaking up for Education: SEND Reform

As our city's cabinet member for children and education I see everyday the huge pressures facing our school system, especially when it comes to supporting childing with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). SEND change is needed, and it's needed now. But this reform must be honest, ambitious, and have children at its heart.

For too long, a broken system has forced children and families to fight long battles to get the support they need. Outcomes for those children haven’t improved while council deficits have ballooned, leaving many on the brink.

That's why I'm please to give Lib Dem leader Ed Davey and education lead Munira Wilson my full support as they challenge Keir Starmer, Early Education Minister and Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan, and the Labour Government to tackle the crisis.

The Liberal Democrats are right to call for more support for council's like ours to provide better support for families, better training for school staff, and better outcomes for children.

That's why I'm joining Ed and Munira in calling for five fundamental principles ahead of any reform:

• Putting children and families first
• Boosting specialist capacity and improve mainstream provision
• Supporting local government, like Portsmouth City Council
• Early identification and shorter waiting lists for diagnosis and support
• Fair SEND funding for our schools

Ed Davey has invited the government to work across party lines to make sure that the forthcoming reforms truly deliver for children with SEND and for their families. Here in Portsmouth, I would welcome a conversation with our local MP and minister for early education Stephen Morgan and a commitment that he will champion Portsmouth pupils from his seat in government.

For Liberal Democrats, SEND reform is personal. Our leader, Ed Davey and his wife Emily are both carers for their disabled son. It's personal experiences like his that inspire us to work for our communities.

Many parents are deeply worried that the forthcoming reforms will leave their children worse off, with an erosion of the rights that underpin the support they need. The lack of clarity from the Labour government is leading to worry and confusion, with constant conflicting reports on what exactly is being considered. SEND families are being deprived of the certainty they need to live their lives.