Arundel and South Downs MP, Andrew Griffith, reacted to today’s statement from the Education Secretary in which the government has set out plans to reform Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in schools.
The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has announced that only the children with the ‘most complex cases’ will be able to access the additional support through an Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). From 2029, children will have their education needs re-assessed ahead of moving onto their next stage of education. Schools will be legally-bound to create individual support plans (ISPs) for all children with SEND.
Andrew Griffith has shared his view that the government is trying to burden the responsibilities onto more schools without the significant investment needed to meet the growing needs of specialist provision.
Following a recent visit to one local primary school, Mr Griffith was able to see how small schools need greater support to build specialist classrooms and provide specialist teaching staff to support pupils with additional learning needs.
The South Downs MP had also hoped to see more working with specialist schools such as Conifers House School in Midhurst that has just opened its doors to children aged 5 to 16 with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). As a small education setting, they are delivering specialist education support to children with different needs. As an independent school, they will now be brought under a new regulatory regime that may impact how they set their fees.
The issue of SEND provision is one of growing concern. The number of primary school aged children in West Sussex with an EHCP has increased by an average of 72% in just five years. At secondary school age, the numbers have increased by an average of 46% in just five years. Autism is one of the more common reasons for a child needing additional support at school, with a 78% increase in children with a diagnosis aged 4 to 10, and a 76% increase in children aged 11-18.
Andrew Griffith MP said:
“ It is clear from today’s statement from the Education Secretary that the government has re-modelled the way in which children are assesses to reduce the number of children who can access EHCPs and in doing so they are placing the burden onto mainstream schools. And while she may think it’s wonderful giving parents a choice of which secondary school they send their children to, in realty, in rural areas there simply isn’t the choice. I will be pressing for more specialist schools and more support to our mainstream schools who are going to have to spend more time in administrating the changes.”
