SEND

Annual Conference SEND report by Griffiths Nguete

Amendment 23.1 – Maria’s Speech

Hello conference. I’m Maria, a first-time delegate and first-time speaker. Today, we confront the harsh realities of a broken system – a system that is failing some of the most vulnerable in our society: children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It is time for us to address these failures and demand urgent systematic reform. 

I work as a TA in a school for SEND students in Tower Hamlets. 7.5% of students in my district hold EHCPs – this is one of the highest proportions in the country. My school is an inclusive environment where every student is empowered to be their authentic self. Our education is tailored to meet the needs of each individual student. We have dedicated teachers, support staff and an onsite clinical team who work collaboratively ensuring each student receives a curriculum focused on life-skills, core subjects and independence. Our speciality means that we can provide for our students beyond the constraints of a traditional curriculum. 

However, many of our Tower Hamlets students with SEND are in mainstream schools as a result of governmental reforms towards inclusive education. The lack of guidelines for what inclusive education should look like and the lack of funding for this inclusivity has left schools struggling to provide for these students. The level of support a student receives varies greatly between Local Authorities, leaving students at the mercy of a postcode lottery. And these are the students who have been awarded EHCPs. 

Many students are still waiting, parents fighting, educators advocating for the support they need. Only half of EHCPs in 2023 were issued within the statutory 20 week limit. The time it takes for existing EHCPs to be amended and updated is subject to chaotic, adversarial and bureaucratic systems which then produces further inequalities in SEND provision between Local Authorities across the country. 

To help with the high costs of SEND provision, currently Local Authorities do not have to include SEND spending in their accounts. This statutory override accounting fix ends in March 2026, it is suspected that 43 percent of Local Authorities will be at risk of effectively declaring bankruptcy.  43 percent. That’s almost half. This is not good enough.  

So conference I call on you to support this amendment, to lobby the government to publish its data and financial plans, enabling Local Authorities to achieve lasting financial stability for their SEND provision. To ultimately improve support, experiences and outcomes for students with SEND. 

It is time to act. It is time to fix the system. 

Thank you.