Minister to meet local MPs over SEND funding

Schools minister Catherine McKinnell is to meet East Yorkshire MPs to discuss funding levels for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the region, MP Graham Stuart has said.

Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness, said the East Riding had the lowest allocation of "high-needs block" funding per pupil of any local authority in England.

During a debate in Parliament earlier this week, the former Conservative minister called for funding to be increased in line with the rest of the UK.

"Every child deserves the best start in life. It is vital that schools and colleges have the resources they need to give them this," he said.

Stuart welcomed the meeting with the minister "to discuss this important matter", but added that "so many people have been genuinely committed to a fairer system in the past".

"It is easy to support it in principle, but it is very hard to find a way of delivering it in practice," he told MPs.

In response, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "He is right - this is a difficult area, and we need to make sure we get it right."

She agreed that the funding local authorities received for SEND provision needed to be reviewed.

She added that she was "determined" to deliver a system where all children and young people had "every chance and opportunity", particularly when it comes to SEND support.

"We will have to work across the House to get to a much stronger and better position for our children and families."

Bridlington and the Wolds MP Charlie Dewhirst (Con) said: "I’m working closely with Graham to ensure the government increases the level of SEND funding schools desperately need.

"I look forward to meeting the minister and working with both her and Graham to find a solution to this vital issue."

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