I recently held a meeting in Barnsley for parents of children with SEND, alongside Dan Jarvis, the MP for Barnsley Central.

They spoke about their struggles with the system, including delays in accessing an Education and Healthcare Plan, and a lack of psychologists and school places available.

The Government has finally published their response to the SEND review, titled SEND and alternative provision improvement plan.

I welcome many of the measures outlined in the plan, which include:

• Plans for earlier diagnoses
• Training for more special educational needs co-ordinators and educational psychologists
• Building 33 more special schools in England

These measures will be welcome to concerned parents across Barnsley East, but many children with SEND needs will have left formal education by the  time these plans can be implemented.

I asked the Government about what they are doing now to help those already struggling to access SEND support. You can see me raise this in Parliament here:  Stephanie asks about SEND provision in Parliament

You can read the Government’s SEND and alternative provision improvement plan here:  Government’s SEND and alternative provision improvement plan