Lib Dem MP, Helen Maguire, backs new party plan to improve access to education for children with special educational needs (SEND)

Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, has backed their party’s new rescue plan for the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system at their Spring Conference in Harrogate, saying that “families deserve far better”.

The motion, which was passed overwhelmingly by members, contains a raft of policies including measures to improve inclusion of SEND students in mainstream schools – by introducing mandatory SEND training for all teachers and education professionals. 

Helen Maguire MP added that council budgets had been “stretched beyond their limits” due to the neglect of the last Conservative government.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling for the acceleration of state-funded special needs schools to rapidly increase capacity in schools for children with SEND. 67 specialist schools are currently stuck in planning delays, holding up plans to boost capacity in state educational settings.

Currently, many children with special educational needs are unable to access the right education for them due to a widespread lack of provision. This often leads to children travelling long distances to special schools, or being sent to expensive private providers whilst council budgets are stretched to their limit.

Surrey County Council has faced the highest number of tribunals relating to SEND in the country over the last three financial years, with 2295 appeals lodged - almost 1000 more than Hampshire (1329), who sit second on the list. Surrey County Council is also reportedly on course to hit £1 million worth of fines for repeated failures within its education service over the last 2 years.

The Liberal Democrats are pushing for “drastic” reform of the special educational needs system and are calling for decisive action to end the SEND crisis for good. 

Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, said: 

“Every week I hear from parents who are desperate to get their child the education they deserve, but face long, painful battles with the Conservative-led Surrey County Council.

“The Conservatives’ neglect of our education system on a national and regional level has created an absolute crisis in special needs provision. We must see real, urgent action from this Labour Government.

”Surrey County Council has failed children, families and teachers in Epsom & Ewel, breaking countless promises to fix SEND services in Surrey, and it is shameful that families are being made to pay the price for it.

“Families deserve far better – which is why we’ve launched our new calls to fix the crisis this weekend. The Liberal Democrats will continue to carry the torch for children let down in Epsom & Ewell”.