Westminster Report

BY David Burton-Sampson MP for Southend West & Leigh – Schools.
Investing in the next generation is so important. On every school visit I make, I see the future in front of me. The next generation of engineers and creatives and even MPs! They are going to shape our country into the next century.
Children need an education fit for the hugely fast paced changes that lie ahead, as the online world and technology becomes even more integrated into all of our lives.
Young people need to be given the opportunities to achieve and have their talent recognised, no matter where it is found. That is why Labour is making major changes in schools to transform children’s life chances and help families here in Southend West and Leigh.
Our landmark schools white paper sets out plans to improve the outcomes for more disadvantaged pupils, along with generational reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.
The “See every Need” reports that we have sent to the Education Department, which are drawn from the experiences of families here facing the challenges of the SEND system, have helped inform the new proposals.
The Education Secretary, Bridget Philipson, wrote this month to thank families in Southend West and Leigh for their contribution. Their voices have been heard.
The Labour vision for education knows schools are part of our communities and that is why every baby born will be set up to succeed, with 30 hours of funded early education in our nurseries.
Parents in Southend can look forward to new Best Start Family Hubs opening here for every-day help and support, and no family will be punished by the two-child benefit cap.
When youngsters get to school, they will have free school meals, if they need them and in school, we will give them access to a rich and broad curriculum that sets them up for life, delivered by teachers who are better trained than ever.
For children with SEND, we will deliver earlier support to enable them to thrive, not simply write them off.
Creating genuinely inclusive schools, where children with SEND get the support they need when they need it, will take time – which is why we are committing to building this system over the next four years working with parents and schools.
Our proposals for £7 billion worth of investment over a three-year period for a decade-long reform of the SEND system, is investing billions to provide earlier, more local support and make mainstream schools more inclusive.
Measures such as ‘every teacher a SEND teacher’, an ‘expert at hand’ service to provide access to specialists and the move to a wrap-around service with blanket health and social support plans, were all suggestions made in our reports that went forward to the Department for Education.
Government plans include mandatory SEND training for all teachers and 60,000 new specialist places, aimed at reducing long waits for Education, Health and Care Plans.
The £7 billion investment includes £3.7 billion for more than 60,000 more specialist places in secondary schools, £1.8 billion to provide support staff like speech therapists and £1.6 billion will support inclusion grants for small group tuition.
I know from speaking to parents, carers and schools across my constituency that support for children with SEND is a top priority. So, I am delighted that this Labour government is tackling the SEND crisis head on with these reforms.
These changes will mean that children with SEND get the right support earlier, when and where they need it, without parents having to fight.
It is vital to provide opportunities for young people because they are the future. We need to show them that they are valued and cared for. These reforms in schools are an important step-change for every child in our community and we are making sure that the next generation is equipped to succeed in life, not only for themselves but for the prosperity of the whole country.
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