Emma Lewell MP: Under Labour reforms every child will have the same opportunities no matter what

Children with SEND are often left without support. Many do not have a school place at all. There is an acute shortage of places. For the children who have needs and are in mainstream education, their teachers and school support staff are stretched to the limit – trying to provide them with the absolute best education they deserve – but without the resources and specialist training needed.

The Government is determined to change this. Whilst our full plans for reform will be announced in the coming months, so far we have put SEND at the heart of the Department for Education so it is embedded in all of that work, not seen as an ‘add-on’.

We have invested billions into higher needs SEND support and created more specialist places, including here in South Shields. Just last week, we announced the most ambitious teacher training plan in our country’s history- where staff in every school, college, and nursery will receive training to support SEND pupils.

I have always supported specialist provision, as well as championing inclusivity where a child whose needs can be met in mainstream education are, this is a step in that direction.

At moment there are some children who are in SEND schools when their needs could be met in mainstream and some children in mainstream who should be in specialist schools, this despite the best efforts of their teachers and support staff, doesn’t give them the education they deserve.

I have dyspraxia and I was educated in a mainstream school. I had excellent teachers and my family were always supportive in my learning. But I know how it feels to struggle through – I want that to change. Under this Labour Government’s reforms, it will – so that every single child has the same opportunities no matter what.