Minister for School Standards visits Spen Valley High School to discuss SEND support

Georgia Gould was welcomed to Spen Valley High School by Kim Leadbeater MP with the Minister’s visit bringing together local support groups, headteachers and SENDCOs from across the area to share their experiences of the current system and help shape the Government’s ongoing SEND reforms.

During the visit, the Minister heard directly from teachers about the challenges they face navigating SEND provision, including long waiting times, a lack of early support, and the emotional toll parents have fighting for help.

The session highlighted the pressures on the education system, including workforce shortages, funding constraints, and increasing demand for specialist support.

Kim said: “Supporting children with SEND and their families has been one of the issues I have heard about most from constituents throughout my time as an MP.

“It was really important to bring the Minister to Spen Valley to hear first-hand about the challenges people are facing. There was a clear consensus that the current system is not working as it should - for families, for schools, for local authorities, and most importantly, for children.

“But there was also a shared determination to get this right. These discussions were honest, constructive and focused on practical solutions.

“I will continue working closely with ministers, schools and families to make sure the voices of people in Spen Valley are heard as these reforms move forward.”

The discussions focused on a number of key areas, including:

The need for earlier intervention and faster access to support; tackling long waiting lists and backlogs, particularly for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs); addressing workforce shortages and improving access to expert support such as speech and language services; and improving coordination between education, health and social care services.

The Minister outlined proposals within the Government’s SEND reform programme and Schools White Paper, including:

New “Experts at Hand” funding, bringing specialist support directly into schools for speech and language therapists – with £3.5 million already allocated to Kirklees Council; investment in additional training for all teachers on SEND; additional capital funding to improve accessibility and inclusion in school buildings; plans to introduce Individual Support Plans to enable earlier support without lengthy delays; and reforms to improve consistency, accountability, and reduce bureaucracy across the system.

Kim added: “I know how difficult and exhausting the current system can be for families. These reforms must reduce bureaucracy, improve early support, and ensure that no child falls through the cracks.

“I will continue to push for the changes that families in Spen Valley need to see.”