Inquiry to look at ‘huge task’ of special educational needs reform in England
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Chair of committee of MPs, Helen Hayes, says current Send ‘deep crisis’ is neither sustainable nor acceptable. Parents frustrated by the multiple failings of England’s special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system have been warned it is not realistic to expect reform to happen quickly, as MPs announced another inquiry into the crisis.
MPs on the cross-party education committee in Westminster say the latest inquiry will seek to find practical solutions rather than just point out problems. The report from the previous one, which went on for 18 months, was published in 2019. Labour MP Helen Hayes, who chairs the latest iteration of the committee, said they were aware this was “probably the deepest crisis” in the whole of the education and children’s services sector.
“We know that there has been a great deal of analysis of the issue,” she said. “What we are hoping to do is to focus on where reform is needed, what good practice could look like and where can we learn lessons.”. Tania Tirraoro, the founder and co-director of Special Needs Jungle, which offers information and resources for families affected by Send, expressed frustration at yet another inquiry. “Why don’t they just read what everybody else has said? It’s nothing that’s going to improve things right now – right now is where the problem is.”.
