Problems with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision across Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire are set to be discussed during a debate in Westminster.

Alistair Strathern, Labour MP for Hitchin, secured a Westminster Hall debate on the topic on Wednesday, September 4.

Parliamentarians will discuss the issues affecting children with SEND and their parents in our area.

In Hertfordshire, a multi-agency improvement board was set up after Ofsted found "systemic failings" in the county council's provision of SEND services last year.

The council also spent more than £28,000 on a court case with the parent of a child with SEND, which found that the council is acting unlawfully every time it fails to complete a child's EHCP (education, health and care plan) within 20 weeks.

An independent review, published earlier this month, found the council is now "on an improvement" journey though “this does not mean all the problems have been fixed”.

Explaining his request for a Westminster Hall debate on the issue, Mr Strathern said: "One of the most heart-breaking parts of being an MP and campaigning over the last seven months has been hearing from young people and their families who are being let down by the system of SEND provision across Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire at the moment.

"Labour's inheriting a system of SEND provision right across the country that simply isn't working for young people and their families at the moment.

"But the situations are particularly acute in Central Beds and Hertfordshire."

Mr Strathern said that he wants the experiences of local parents and children to be "at the heart" of the debate, and has invited people "let down" by SEND provision to contact his office by emailing alistair.strathern.mp@parliament.uk.

"Together, let's start the hard work to make sure everyone has access to the support they need to thrive at school," Mr Strathern said.