Steve Darling and Ed Davey Set Out Five Tests for SEND Reform, as Data Reveals 1,643 Children at Risk of Losing Support
Steve Darling and Ed Davey Set Out Five Tests for SEND Reform, as Data Reveals 1,643 Children at Risk of Losing Support
Local Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling has urged the Government to protect the 1,643 children in Torbay who rely on the current SEND system, as the party outlined five essential tests for reform during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 9 July.
Recent analysis of national data reveals that 689 children in Torbay with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) attend mainstream schools. These pupils are especially vulnerable under Labour’s rumoured reform plans, which may remove key rights to assessment and support.
Last month, an OFSTED report highlighted serious failings in Torbay’s SEND services.
Since being elected last year, Steve has made SEND reform a priority. In June, he published a spotlight report offering a detailed and evidence-based assessment of how well children and young people with SEND are being supported across the Bay.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey and Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson have written to Keir Starmer, setting out five key principles to guide reform. They have also offered to work on a cross-party basis to ensure changes are delivered for children with SEND and their families.
The five principles include preserving the right to SEND assessments, expanding special school capacity, improving early identification of needs, reducing waiting lists and ensuring local authorities are properly supported. The party is also calling for better training for school staff.
Commenting on the reforms, Steve Darling said:
“For far too long, our broken system has forced children and families in Torbay and across the South West to fight long battles for the support they need.
Outcomes haven’t improved and councils face overwhelming deficits that threaten core services.
“While change is urgently needed, I am deeply concerned that the Government’s approach could strip away support from families who rely on it. We must not allow children’s rights to be rolled back.
“Our five principles offer a clear framework to protect children and deliver the meaningful reform families deserve.”
The Liberal Democrats’ five principles and priorities for SEND reform are as follows:
- Putting children and families first
Children’s rights to SEND assessment and support must be maintained and the voices of children and young people with SEND and of their families and carers must be at the centre of the reform process. - Boosting specialist capacity and improving mainstream provision
Capacity in state special provision must be increased, alongside improvements to inclusive mainstream provision, with investment in both new school buildings and staff training. - Supporting local government
Local authorities must be supported better to fund SEND services, including through:- The extension of the profit cap in children’s social care to private SEND provision, where many of the same private equity backed companies are active, and
- National government funding to support any child whose assessed needs exceed a specific cost.
- Early identification and shorter waiting lists
Early identification and intervention must be improved, with waiting times for diagnosis, support and therapies cut. - Fair funding
The SEND funding system must properly incentivise schools both to accept SEND pupils and to train their staff in best practice for integrated teaching and pastoral care.