Corby MP Lee Barron met Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson to discuss key recommendations from his latest round table to consider solutions to solving the SEND crisis.

It came after the third round table hosted by the MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, which was designed to contribute recommendations to the prepublication stage of the Department for Education’s The Schools White Paper which will propose reforms to the SEND system.

It was a multi-agency event which brought together the voices of parents, education professionals from early years through to college providers, health and employment

representatives and North Northamptonshire Council.

Corby MP Lee Barron met Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson following Lee's SEND round table.

placeholder image — Corby MP Lee Barron met Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson following Lee's SEND round table.

This week, the MP shared the outcomes with the minister and discussed key recommendations.

He told her there was a clear and consistent message from parents: that early, front-loaded, needs-led support; national consistency with local flexibility; and properly resourced, joined-up systems are essential to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Lee said: “SEND is everybody’s responsibility, and reform must focus on enabling professionals to act early, work together more effectively with parents and each other, and deliver inclusive, high-quality provision wherever a child lives.

“I am determined to continue to advocate both nationally and locally for all those families in Corby and East Northamptonshire who are being failed by the broken SEND system, which is not fit for purpose.”

The Schools White Paper is soon due for publication.

Lee said: “I intend to host further events to ensure the views of parents and professionals across Corby and East Northamptonshire are heard and I encourage anyone who would like to join me to get in touch.”

To contact Lee, email [email protected]