HARLOW MP has called comments by Labour’s parliamentary candidate Chris Vince on special educational needs, as “woefully misinformed”.

Mr Halfon has written a letter to YH.

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Dear Editor, 

I am writing in response to the Labour representative’s woefully misinformed interview with Your Harlow published yesterday. 

Yet again the Labour Party seem intent on weaponising children and parents, even going so far as to use Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as a way to generate erroneous headlines. 

As Harlow’s first disabled MP I have spent many years trying to support Harlow children with SEND and when I was Chair of the Education Select Committee I led a groundbreaking report on SEND, some recommendations of which were adopted by the Government. Fair-minded readers can see the report here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201919/cmselect/cmeduc/20/20.pdf

I recognise that there are enormous pressures on families with SEND children and young people and that much needs to be done and, crucially, is being done. But it is still important to correct misleading and inaccurate information purely used to arouse anger in Harlow.

I can reassure readers with absolute certainty that the Department for Education (DfE) has not provided any local authorities either nationally or locally with targets to reduce provisions in the Economic, Health and Care Plans (ECHP) of those children and young people with SEND. 

In fact, this Conservative Government’s investment into the high-need budget has risen by over 60% since 2019 to £10.5 billion, including an increase of £440 million next year. 

As part of the Government’s critical work to help improve SEND services, the Department is prioritising increasing assistance to better meet the needs of children and young people, as well as their families. 

The measures to improve SEND provision include: 

• Establishing a single national system that delivers for every child and young person with SEND so that they enjoy their childhood, achieve good outcomes, and are well prepared for adulthood and employment. 

• Giving families greater confidence that their child will be able to fulfil their potential through improved mainstream provision in their local setting. 

• For those children and young people with SEND who do require an EHCP and specialist provision, ensuring they get access to the support they need, and that parents do not have to wade through a treacle of unkind bureaucracy.

• Establishing a standardised EHCP process which makes greater use of digital technology so there is less of a battle to get the support children and young people need, and families can have confidence that the system works.

• Strengthening accountability across the system so that everyone is held to account for supporting children and young people with SEND. 

• Creating more special school places. Since March we have approved an additional 41 special free schools. Once complete, this investment will almost double the number of special free school places available across the country – from around 8,500 to 19,000 – ensuring all children receive a quality education, tailored to their needs.

I am working hard to ensure that children and young people with SEND are cared for educationally, mentally, physically and financially in order to guarantee that every child, regardless of their circumstances, gets the best start in life. I wonder if the Labour representative has conveniently forgotten the fact that a brand new special school – the Greenwell Academy – opened in Harlow just last week. 

I have spent my whole career championing education and skills. I have visited every school in Harlow on numerous occasions over thirteen years and I have worked with the incredible principals, staff and parents of the whole school community to support them however I can. I have, and will always, continue to support children and young people with SEND.

I would recommend that the next time the Labour Party try and seek cheap political headlines in Your Harlow, instead of copying and pasting inaccurate articles from newspapers, they actually get their facts right. 

Yours sincerely, 

Robert Halfon