Help for those with special educational needs and disabilities is desperately needed

Harpenden & Berkhamsted Lib Dems say pledge to help those with special educational needs and disabilities is desperately needed

• Victoria Collins, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, says Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education is a key issue for local people, following a damning OFSTED report last year (Nov 2023) on the Conservative council’s services.

• The Lib Dems manifesto pledges to establish a new National Body for SEND to fund support for children with very high needs.

The Lib Dems want to fix the crisis in special educational needs provision, and help to end the postcode lottery in provision.

The manifesto also spells out details of plans to give local authorities extra funding, to reduce the amount that schools pay towards the cost of a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan.

Victoria Collins, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, said:

“SEND education is a big issue in this part of Hertfordshire. In November 2023,  an OFSTED report said that there were “widespread and/or systemic failings” and that Hertfordshire council had “not acted with the necessary urgency to address long-standing, systemic and significant weaknesses”. At the time I spoke out about the inadequate response from the Conservatives, who are in charge at Herts County Council.”

“I am delighted to see these plans for SEND in the Lib Dem manifesto, as families across Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and the surrounding villages have been let down by this Conservative Government.”

“I am proud to stand for Parliament for Harpenden & Berkhamsted and am determined to give this constituency a strong voice in Westminster. The people in this new constituency have been taken for granted for too long by Conservative MPs.”