GOVERNMENT MUST THINK AGAIN ON SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 27th Oct 2006

Speaking in the debate on the Education and Skills Select Committee report on Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the House of Commons yesterday, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield, said:

"The Government's bland and self-congratulatory response ignores most of the Select Committee report and misrepresents part of it. Their rosy view bears little relation to the parents' perspective.

"In the past couple of months parents have come to my surgeries who are fighting huge battles to get the specialist education their children need.

"The Government must think again and take action on the widespread concerns of parents, disability groups and teachers about how we treat our SEN children.

"It is true that the situation has improved but it will take a lot more than one year of average investment to provide a system that our children deserve."

Commenting after the debate, Paul Holmes MP added:

"Under the Government's current failing system, parents must battle against a frustrating, legalistic and under-funded system of SEN support. Children are often placed in the cheapest option, not the setting most suited to their needs.

"It is time the Government provided personalised education for every pupil, whether they are better suited to mainstream or special education."

Related Links:

Paul Holmes MP's speech on Special Educational Needs in full.

The full debate on the Select Committee report.

The Education and Skills Select Committee report on SEN.