😢 SEND Provision: Derbyshire

Commons Chamber

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The debate highlighted the severe crisis in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in Derbyshire, with MPs from the area emphasizing the systemic failures by the Conservative-led county council. Parents and educators are facing long waits for support, inadequate school placements, and a lack of communication, with some children missing out on vital education. The unspent £16 million SEND budget was a particular point of contention, with calls for the council to urgently improve its services. Labour MPs pledged to continue fighting for better SEND provision, expressing hope that with government interventions and new funding, real change could be achieved.

Summary

  • Crisis in Derbyshire’s SEND Provision: The debate highlighted a severe crisis in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in Derbyshire. Labour MPs from the region spoke about the “widespread and systemic failings” identified by Ofsted, with the situation described as reaching a breaking point.

  • Parental and Carer Frustration: MPs shared stories of parents and carers feeling ignored and let down by Derbyshire County Council. Many families faced long waits for assessments and education, health and care plans (EHCPs), with some children missing significant education due to unavailable school places.

  • Underspending Scandal: A major point of contention was the £16 million in SEND funding that remained unspent by Derbyshire County Council since 2019. This was considered scandalous, particularly as children suffered from lack of services and support.

  • Calls for Accountability: Labour MPs demanded accountability from the Conservative-led council, criticized for poor communication and slow response to the crisis. There were calls for urgent improvements and better use of allocated funds.

  • Government Commitment: The Minister for School Standards emphasized the government’s commitment to improving SEND services nationally. Efforts include early intervention, inclusive provision in mainstream settings, and significant capital investment for new SEND places.

  • Local Action Plans: Following the Ofsted report, Derbyshire County Council and the integrated care board were required to submit a priority action plan to address the identified issues. Progress is being tracked, and advisers have been appointed to support the implementation.

  • Need for Consistent and Timely Support: The debate underscored the need for more consistent and timely support for SEND children across local authorities, highlighting the disparity and delays in services, including long tribunal waits and the emotional and financial toll on families.

  • Future Improvements: There was a call for better integration between the NHS and local councils, more frequent inspections, and the use of existing facilities, such as empty classrooms, to enhance SEND provision locally.

Divisiveness

The disagreement displayed in the parliamentary session is minimal, which warrants a rating of 1 on a scale of 1 to 5. The session was primarily focused on a unified critique of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in Derbyshire county, with all participants expressing similar concerns and frustrations about the systemic failings identified by Ofsted. The dialogue was marked by a shared agenda among the Labour MPs to address and improve SEND provisions, rather than any significant disagreement or contention among the speakers.

Key points supporting this rating include:

  1. Unified Criticism: Every speaker in the session, including Linsey Farnsworth, John Whitby, Jon Pearce, Adam Thompson, Natalie Fleet, Samantha Niblett, Louise Jones, and Jonathan Davies, presented the same narrative of discontent with the current state of SEND provision in Derbyshire. Each recounted similar stories of inadequate support and bureaucratic failures by Derbyshire county council, underscoring a unified front rather than any divergence in views.

  2. Consistent Interventions: The interventions made by other MPs such as Jim Shannon, James Naish, Catherine Atkinson, and Amanda Hack were in full support of the main speaker, Linsey Farnsworth. For example, Jim Shannon highlighted the importance of early intervention, which Farnsworth agreed was not being achieved in Derbyshire. No counterarguments or different perspectives were introduced in these exchanges.

  3. Common Calls for Action: There was a repeated call for urgent action and improvement by Derbyshire county council, as well as a mention of the need for increased and better-managed funding. These calls for action were echoed by all participants without any visible disagreement or alternative proposals that might suggest conflict.

  4. Lack of Opposition: Notably, there were no Conservative MPs present to offer an opposing view or to defend the actions of the Conservative-led county council, which might have introduced contention. This absence contributed to a lack of disagreement in the session.

  5. Government Response: The Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell, aligned with the concerns raised by the Labour MPs, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improving SEND provisions. Her responses were supportive and focused on the collaborative efforts needed to address the systemic issues, further indicating a lack of disagreement.

In summary, the session was characterized by a consensus among the participants about the challenges with SEND provision in Derbyshire and the urgent need for improvement. There were no notable points of disagreement, thus justifying a disagreement rating of 1.