Support for children with SEND

On Wednesday 21 April 2021, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP led a Westminster Hall debate on support for children with SEND.

Introducing the topic, he gave the following statement:

"Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and their families have faced huge hardship over the past year, with services and support being put under strain.

"It's so important to raise the difficulties they have faced to ensure they can access the support they need.

"Their voices must be heard in Parliament, so I'm pleased to have the opportunity to lead this debate."
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

Watch the debate on parliamentlive.tv

Read the transcript on Hansard

Information, resources and Parliamentary activity

What is a Westminster Hall debate?

Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister.

How Parliament works: Westminster Hall debates.

The debates would normally take place in the Grand Committee Room – just off Parliament’s historic Westminster Hall - but have been temporarily relocated due to Coronavirus restrictions since 14 January. They now take place in the more modern Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House.

The temporary move will allow up to 20 MPs to participate in any one debate physically and virtually combined. See our news story for further information: Westminster Hall debates: MPs to participate virtually and in person.

House of Commons Library research briefings

Special Educational Needs: support in England (16 April 2021)
Coronavirus: Impact on special educational needs in England (15 April 2020)

Debates

House of Commons:

Disabled Children: Accessible and Inclusive Education (9 December 2020)
Special Educational Needs: Isle of Wight (25 February 2020)
Special Educational Needs and Disability Funding (29 January 2020)

House of Lords:

Special Educational Needs (26 November 2020)
Children: Special Educational Needs (17 March 2020)

Statements

Nick Gibb MP (The Minister of State for School Standards) High Needs Provision Capital Update (13 April 2020)
Gavin Williamson (The Secretary of State for Education) Education Updates (17 December 2020)

Oral Questions

Henry Smith MP: Education for Children with SEND (1 March 2021)
Vicky Foxcroft MP: Children with SEND: Covid-19 (12 October 2020)
Stephen McPartland MP: SEND Education Funding (12 October 2020)
Fleur Anderson MP: Special Educational Needs and Disability (2 March 2020)

Search hansard.parliament.uk for debates, oral statements, oral questions and more.

Written questions

Emma Hardy MP: Special Educational Needs: Inspections and Home Education (12 April 2021)
Dan Jarvis MP: Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus (12 April 2021)
Theresa Villiers MP: Special Educational Needs (24 March 2021)
Kirsten Oswald MP: Remote Education (22 March 2021)
James Daly MP: Special Educational Needs (23 March 2021)
Caroline Lucas MP: Disability: Children and Young People (17 March 2021)
Munira Wilson MP: Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus (15 March 2021)

Search questions-statements.parliament.uk for written questions, answers and statements.

Select committee inquiries/ reports

In July 2020 the Education Committee published a report on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Read the report and Government response.

Search committees.parliament.uk for committees, inquiries and publications.