Send report given to inquiry after community event

A report highlighting the problems facing children special educational needs and disabilities (Send) hopes to help a national inquiry find "real solutions" to the issue.

It follows an event in Corby in Northamptonshire for parents, education professionals and local officials, organised by the town's Labour MP, Lee Barron.

The cross-party Parliamentary Education Select Committee is looking to how to improve Send support for children.

Barron said he wanted to ensure the "submission to this inquiry is one that is community- and professional-led".

Last year, a report into services for children with Send in North Northamptonshire found "widespread and systemic failings".

Barron, MP for Corby & East Northamptonshire, said he organised a roundtable meeting for parents and officials from North Northamptonshire Council and other service providers because the Send system was "broken".

He presented the report to the Helen Hayes MP, who is Chairwoman of Parliament's Education Select Committee.

Barron said it would help the committee "consider and implement real solutions to a real problem".

Alongside the MP was Kay Sammon, Chairwoman of the Downs Syndrome charity Ups 'n' Downs, who was also at the round table event, which took place last week.

"There has been a great deal of time, commitment and hard work put in by lots of members of the Northamptonshire Send community to produce this comprehensive report," she said.

Earlier this month, the House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee, said the Send system was "in disarray... mired in red tape, lacking funding, and failing to produce value for money".

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