Investing in SEND, Locally and Nationally
Calderdale Labour Group welcomes the £740m announced today by the new Labour Government to create more specialist places in mainstream schools as the first part of major SEND reform.
This new funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND, and to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs.
This investment will improve the lives of tens of thousands of families across England, including the 6698 local Children and Young People (nearly 1 in 5) who have an Education Health and Care Plan or are on SEN support in Calderdale.
Calderdale’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Adam Wilkinson, said:
“Children in Calderdale with special educational needs deserve the best possible education – but for too long too many have been failed by a national system in crisis.
Locally, we’ve announced over £20m in investment for a new SEND school for North Halifax and the new Labour government is also taking action – fixing the foundations of our school system and our country to get Britain back on track. We know there is an awful lot more to do, but this is a big step in the right direction.
Through these SEND reforms – starting with almost three quarters of a billion in capital investment to create more places for SEN children in mainstream schools – we are going to deliver for local children. Labour is ambitious for every child in Calderdale, and the government’s work of change to break down the barriers to opportunity has begun.”
Last year, only 20% of pupils with SEND nationally met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 level. Without the right support, children are falling behind their peers, impacting their future life chances.
The funding announced today forms part of a broader £6.7 billion capital settlement for education for the next financial year, announced at the Autumn Budget, which will be used to deliver this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances while fixing the foundations of the school system.
Here in Calderdale, we are committed to our Children and Young People with SEND. We make sure their voice is at the heart of decision making, through the SEND Strategic Partnership which SEND Youth Representatives attend to express their lived experiences. We take part in extensive co-production work with the local Parent Carer Forum and continue to expand available provision for Children and Young People with additional needs. The additional investment announced by the new Labour Government today will only help our ambitions for Children and Young People with SEND in Calderdale.
You can find out more about the Expansion Of Special School Provision at the link below:
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