30,095 SEN children in Hertfordshire could benefit from £740m capital spending – 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 – 13.3% of local children have Special Educational Needs in Hertfordshire. The investment follows a damning National Audit Office report that exposed the special educational needs system in crisis.
At November’s Full Council meeting, a joint administration motion on SEND was passed. Labour’s Cllr Helen Green, who seconded the motion, said:
“Children in Hertfordshire with special educational needs deserve the best possible education – but for too long too many have been failed by a system in crisis.
“The Labour government is taking action – we are fixing the foundations of our school’s system and our country to get Britain back on track. We know there is an awful lot more to do, after we inherited a country that was broke and broken from the Conservatives, 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 Hertfordshire, and the work of change to break down the barriers to opportunity has begun.”
Cllr Green continued:
“For too long, children with special educational needs in Hertsmere have been failed by a system that is slow, inefficient, and leaves families fighting for the support their children desperately need. Labour is determined to change that.
“Here in Hertsmere, we’ve taken a vital step forward by agreeing to call on Hertfordshire County Council to review its SEND tribunal system. Too many families are left in limbo while the Council contests cases it almost always loses – delaying crucial support for children and wasting resources that could be better spent on improving services.
“Alongside the Labour Government’s £740 million investment to create more SEND places and improve accessibility in schools, our local action is another example of Labour working to break down barriers to opportunity. We are ambitious for every child in Hertsmere and committed to building a fairer, more inclusive system for the future.”
Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson said:
“The current picture is stark. For too long, too many children with additional needs haven’t been getting support early enough, with dire consequences when issues escalate.
“But my commitment to reform – making tangible change to the SEND system to improve experiences for children and families – could not be clearer, and building a system where more children with SEND can attend mainstream schools is central to our plans.
“We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for all children and will work closely with local authorities, schools and families to ensure inclusion is at the heart of learning and that all pupils are getting the support they need to achieve and thrive.”
Last year, only 20% of pupils with SEND 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 chance while fixing the foundations of the school system.