Minister meets parents and teachers over SEND plan
BBCThe education secretary has met with parents and educators to discuss government plans to overhaul Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision in schools.
Bridget Phillipson on Monday held a roundtable discussion in Birmingham about the future of provision across the West Midlands.
It came after the government announced £3bn of funding to create tens of thousands of specialist places in mainstream schools for children with SEND.
During her visit, Phillipson told BBC Midlands Today more than £60m would go towards creating places in the region.
"Critically, what we're trying to do here is make sure we have the places ready as quickly as possible but also making sure we have specialist provision in the mainstream too," the Labour minister said.
"What I've heard from parents right across the country is that they want their children to be able to go to their local school with their friends, in their community."
But she heard queries as to how that would look in practice.
Parent Sarah Thomas, from Shropshire, said the planned overhaul seemed "very complex" and more focus was needed on what schools were aiming to deliver for children.
"The minister talked about children achieving and thriving," she added. "What we've been discussing is that it's different for each child.
"It's not all about attainment, it's not all about GCSEs and formal education."
As part of the overhaul, the government said it would train more teachers, based in mainstream schools, in skills for assisting children with SEND.
It also said it would deliver on all 10,000 places due to be created, via either building planned schools or by giving councils the funding to create an equivalent number of specialist places.
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
