A MAJOR inquiry which aims to improve long-criticised school provisions for youngsters with special educational needs has been lauded by MPs who have vowed to make sure Barnsley voices are heard.
Children are to benefit from a £740m cash injection from the government which can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND and to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs.
The commitment comes after it was revealed that only 20 per cent of Barnsley pupils with SEND met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage Two level, sparking fears that vulnerable children are falling behind.
Marie Tidball MP, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, joined Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock in welcoming the launch of the national inquiry.
The deadline for submitting local evidence is January 30 and a week prior, Ms Tidball will be holding a meeting to hear from constituents about their solutions to break down barriers for SEND children to feed into the inquiry.
The Education Select Committee, of which Ms Tidball is a member, has launched a major inquiry into ‘Solving the SEND Crisis’ and will investigate solutions on how to stabilise the system in the short term and how sustainability in the longer term can be achieved.
This, they say, includes ideas on how to achieve inclusivity in mainstream schools, improving support and training for educational practitioners, and reforms to the way SEND is funded.
Marie told the Chronicle: “I know from talking with constituents across our communities in Penistone and Stocksbridge that the SEND system is unacceptable and unsustainable.
“I welcome the government’s £740m cash injection which will benefit thousands of pupils and pave the way for more pupils with SEND to achieve and thrive.
“Fixing this requires listening to the SEND young people and their parents to ensure they have a strong voice in achieving the solutions we need.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to sit on the Education Select Committee in Parliament was to drive improvements in SEND in our communities and on a national scale.
“As a former SEND child myself, I understand how important it is that we get this provision right for our children and young people as well as their parents and carers and educational professionals.
“The inquiry is a strong opportunity to be able to investigate how we can do this and shape the government’s approach to SEND reform.
“I know many parents and teachers across Penistone and Stocksbridge have first-hand experience and insight into what needs to change in our SEND system, so I look forward to hearing from them.”
Record-breaking numbers of children with SEND in Barnsley have been logged but budget disparities - notably specialist provisions receiving just £1.1m out of the borough-wide school funding pot of £226m - have proven to be a huge drawback for improving outcomes.
The town’s MPs previously voiced their worries after Barnsley Council accumulated an £11m deficit in its SEND budget, with the potential to rise to more than £36m by the end of the current financial year.
Ms Peacock added: “I know that SEND provision is a real concern across Barnsley.
“I have previously held a public meeting for local parents of children with SEND, met with the local council and raised this matter in Parliament.
“I am pleased that the Labour government are now making changes - too often families feel our education and care systems do not meet the needs of all children.
“I know this will be important news for many families in Barnsley.”
