Parliament Debates the Crisis in SEND Support

MPs from across the House last week debated the urgent need for reform to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, following a petition signed by more than 120,000 people.

Contributors spoke of families battling long delays, schools unable to provide adequate support, and councils facing rising deficits. Concerns centred on the increasing demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), with applications having grown by almost 80% since 2018. Many MPs warned that parents should not have to fight a system described as “adversarial” and “broken” simply to secure an education that meets their children’s needs.

Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rural Services, added her voice during the debate. She shared the story of Lucy, a capable student with autism from her constituency, who has been left without adequate support.

Sarah Dyke highlighted the strain on rural councils like Somerset, where EHCP applications are up by 26% and each plan costs around £6,000 to create. She warned that the process is often the only route presented to families, even when it may not be the most appropriate form of support.

Calling for urgent action, Sarah Dyke, MP said:

If these priorities are not central to the system, we will continue to fail a generation of children. We need to recognise diversity and provide the education of the future now.

The Government is expected to publish a schools White Paper later this autumn, which MPs stressed must protect children’s legal rights, strengthen early support, and provide sustainable funding for councils and schools.

Read the full debate transcript here.