Herts and Bedfordshire councils respond to SEND parliamentary debate

On Wednesday, September 6, MP Alistair Strathern, among other MP’s, highlighted the “shocking” state of provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Herts and Beds schools.

The debate in parliament’s Westminster Hall drew on over a hundred testimonies sent to Mr Strathern from parents in Herts and Beds.

A further two critical Ofsted reports of Central Bedfordshire Council and Hertfordshire County Council were highlighted by Mr Strathern, who urged the Education Minister, MP Cat McKinnell, to ramp up Labour’s work to fix the system.

Central Bedfordshire councillor Steve Owen, executive member for children’s services said: “We welcome the parliamentary debate and hope this is productive and moves the much talked about reforms to the system forward."  

Cllr Steve Owen pointed to an increase in demand for SEND services in the county. (Image: Central Bedfordshire Council)

Cllr Owen suggested that the council has made “significant improvements” to its services and is “committed” to  delivering the “best services” to SEND families - welcoming a “discussion” with Mr Strathern about the topic.

During the 30-minute debate, the Hitchin MP pointed to delays in the education, health and care assessment process, as well as in the provision of SEND support and appropriate school places.

He said “far too many families” were having to battle an appeals system to secure the support children were in need of, and that fighting those appeals was costing Herts and Central Bedfordshire councils “eye-watering amounts”.

Cllr Richard Roberts is confident that improvement is being made to Hert's county councils SEND services. (Image: Herts County Council)

Leader of Herts County Council, Cllr Richard Roberts, said: “Our SEND services, like those delivered by other local authorities up and down the country, continue to face a perfect storm of underfunding and increasing need, understandably leading to delays and dissatisfaction.

“By delivering millions of pounds of additional investment and radically transforming the way in which we work, bringing in more staff with lived experience of SEND we are genuinely turning a corner, delivering higher quality services, better overall outcomes and improved communication.”

The councillor was "confident" that with “additional funding” and “increased expertise”, children and parents in Herts will continue to see “improvements” in its SEND services.