In almost every week since my election, I have met a constituent struggling with SEND services and been contacted by many more.
This issue was already close to my heart: I have grown up with a brother and sister living with special educational needs.
I saw first-hand how challenging it can be for children and their family when the system simply doesn’t work. But I also witnessed the positive difference high quality provision can make - when we get it right.
For too many of my constituents, this is not the case.
Since 2015, the number of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan in Hertfordshire has grown by a staggering 223%, even higher than the 140% rise nationally.
High needs funding has not kept up. Incredibly, Hertfordshire receives the 3rd lowest funding per head out of every local authority in the country.
If it was funded at the national average, an extra £47 million would be available for children with the most complex needs across Hertfordshire
In Parliament, I urged the Ministers to revise the national funding formula and remove the historic funding factor – funding decisions must be based on current demand.
This would be an important first step to addressing my constituents’ concerns and to developing a system that works for every child in need.
