Support for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is an issue of massive importance for families in Exeter. From my conversations on the doorstep and the dozens of families who have contacted me for help, there’s no doubt that the system needs to change.
Last year, I held a day of roundtables for parents and professionals with experience of the current SEND system. I have taken the experiences and ideas raised in those conversations back to Westminster to inform the decisions this Government is making on reforming support for SEND children.
Under the Conservatives, training on SEND was inconsistent. As a result, almost half of primary and secondary teachers say that more training would help them to support pupils with SEND.
That’s why Labour is reforming the SEND system and giving parents the confidence that their child can achieve and thrive at their local school.
Backed by £200 million, new courses available to all teaching staff will deepen knowledge of how to adapt their teaching to meet a wide range of needs, including visual impairments and speech and language needs.
Teachers will learn about the things we know can transform how children access education, like using assistive technology such as speech to text dictation tools and building awareness of additional needs amongst all pupils, so every child can succeed.
Underpinning the training will be a new expectation set out in the SEND Code of Practice, confirming that all staff in every nursery, school and college should receive training on SEND and inclusion – making sure that every teacher in Exeter and across the country is reached.
By creating specialist places and upskilling teachers, the Government is making sure need is identified earlier, help comes more quickly and parents don’t have to fight tooth and nail for the support they and their children deserve.
Crucially, this shows that Labour is listening – to experts, to parents, to MPs – as we transform the ‘lose, lose, lose’ system the Tories left behind into one where every child can reach their full potential.
