As September begins, schools and colleges across the country reopen their doors, welcoming students back for another academic year. Parliament also resumes its duties, after a summer spent in the constituency meeting residents and some of our fantastic organisations.
This time of year is especially important for parents, particularly those whose children are stepping through the school gates for the very first time. Whilst it is naturally a time of excitement, pride, and the promise of what is to come, it can also be filled with a sense of anxiety and trepidation. This anxiety is often no more acute than for parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Improving the future for our children is a central focus of my work as your MP. As Parliamentary business restarts, my immediate attention is on delivering better SEND provision for our community.
One of the most pressing issues is the inequality in funding for children with SEND. Schools are finding it increasingly difficult to provide the necessary resources, placing additional pressures on families. Local authorities, such as Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, are legally obligated to allocate additional funding for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). However, with rising costs, particularly in areas like transport, ensuring that this funding is prioritised correctly is becoming more challenging.
In addition to these existing budgetary pressures, there is a striking disparity in the allocation of pupil premiums from the Government. Schools in Birmingham, for example, receive a higher premium per pupil compared to those in Solihull. This is despite the fact that our local schools also educate students from Birmingham. Yet, they do so without the benefit of the higher premium that Birmingham schools receive. This situation is blatantly unfair and puts Solihull at a significant disadvantage.
Despite these challenges, schools in Solihull Borough are going above and beyond to ensure that every student receives the support they need. However, there must be consistency from the Government regarding pupil premiums and funding. I am calling for a clear, strategic approach that emphasises early intervention and sustained support for children with SEND. This includes recalculating the pupil premiums to ensure that schools in Solihull Borough are treated fairly.
I shall be debating these critical issues on Thursday 5th September, in Westminster Hall. It is time for the Government to recognise the tremendous efforts of our schools and teachers, who work tirelessly to nurture and educate our children. Their dedication deserves not just acknowledgement but also the resources to continue their essential work effectively. Which is why I will be calling for teachers to be given the appropriate training needed to help identify children with SEND difficulties and then teach them appropriately.
For those interested in following this debate, I invite you to visit my social media pages or website for updates. I believe that education is not just for the starting line, it is for the entire race; and that together, we can achieve a fairer and more supportive education system that gives every child, regardless of their needs, the best possible start in life.
