Hull West and Haltemprice’s schools are brilliant centres of learning, filled to the brim with ambition for our children.
But, for too long, they haven’t been backed to cater for a wide range of needs.
That’s meant that some children haven’t had the education that they deserve. It’s led to a more
unfair country, with a yawning attainment gap. It’s led to families being pushed to breaking point
to try and get the help they need.
That’s why, since entering government, a big focus for Labour has been making our schools
more inclusive. Inclusion isn’t just a nice to have. It’s an essential.
It goes to an important principle for me – that every child, regardless of their background,
postcode or need, deserves a high quality education. One that is rich, broad, stretching and
ambitious. They deserve that in our community, close to home, with their friends. They deserve
that without a fight.
That’s why, in February, I backed Labour’s plans to transform our system supporting children
with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
At their heart, they are modelled around moving specialist support into mainstream schools so
they can be more easily accessed and put in place more quickly before issues take hold.
That means the most ambitious teacher training plan in our country’s history – upskilling staff
in every school, college and nursery.
It means 60,000 more specialist places across early years settings, schools and colleges so
children can get the support that they need on their doorstep, in their community.
I met with local families to discuss these plans and they told me they want to see more inclusive schooling because too many children with SEND are not in education because mainstream schools are not equipped to deal with their needs. They also want to see more specialist places opening for complex needs and focus on building life skills so children with SEND can prepare to live more independent lives as they leave education.
While we wait for the response to the formal consultation, Labour haven’t sat on their hands.
Labour has delivered the biggest single funding allocation on record to deliver more places for
children with SEND – Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council received £3,471,601.36 and £4,960,532.61.
Then we gave Hull City Council £2,269,225 and East Riding of Yorkshire Council £2,112,349 with the funds to set up a new SEND service for local families – Experts at Hand. The service will get specialist support like educational psychologists and speech and language therapists into our schools.
Now, Labour is unveiling our Inclusive Mainstream package to make clear to Hull West and Haltemprice’s schools the adaptations they must make to support children with a wider range of needs.
This first of its kind package will show SEND parents the kind of tangible improvements they
should see – adapting acoustics and light, introducing quiet and calm spaces, or installing ramps
or handrails.
But these aren’t instructions without support. Hull City Council will receive £2,206,107.00 and East Riding of Yorkshire Council will receive £2,112,349 to make this a reality.
Investment going hand in hand with reform to build a system where every child can achieve and
thrive.