Ensuring Support for Children with SEND
The rights of children to proper assessment and support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) must be upheld, with their voices—and those of their families and caregivers—central to any reform efforts.
**Expanding Specialized Resources and Strengthening Mainstream Education**
There is a need to increase capacity in state-funded specialized education while also improving inclusive practices in mainstream schools. This includes investment in both infrastructure and staff development.
Strengthening Local Governance
Local authorities should receive better financial support to fund SEND services. Measures include:
- Applying the same financial restrictions to private SEND providers as those in children’s social care, given the overlap in private sector involvement.
- Providing national funding to assist children whose required support exceeds a certain threshold.
Faster Support Through Early Intervention
Efforts must be made to improve early identification of needs and to reduce delays in diagnosis, access to support, and therapeutic services.
Fair Allocation of Resources
The funding system should encourage schools to admit SEND students and provide training in effective, integrated teaching and student welfare practices.
We look forward to further discussion on these priorities. Working across political lines, alongside colleagues from the Liberal Democrats, we aim to ensure that upcoming reforms meet the needs of children with SEND and their families.
Read next
Badenoch returns to Conservative conference, markedly stronger than a year ago
A year ago, Tory MPs feared a fresh leadership revolt against Kemi Badenoch as Tories hit historic 14-16% support; November, after 12 months, was hushed: decisive challenge month. Yet, despite poor polls, “Keminisation” saw her impose style and authority.
More in Common’s Luke Tryl, director, said Badenoch holds
UK sanctions plan on illegal Israeli settlements faces criticism from US, Israel and British MPs
Today, with the agreement of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli officials announced a series of countermeasures in response to new sanctions declared by the British foreign secretary of the Labour government, following a sequence of anti-Israel decisions by the same administration.
The accusations leveled today by the Labour foreign secretary,
UK announces trade ban on Israeli settlements as tougher stance
Ed Miliband will announce a broad reset of the UK’s relations with Israel on Tuesday, pledging a more active stance in support of the Palestinian cause. In an intervention drawing fierce criticism from the US and Israel, the foreign secretary will impose a ban on trade in goods and