Helen urges SEND parents to share experiences

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan is urging parents in her constituency to share their experiences of accessing support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

This comes days after the launch of the Education Select Committee’s new inquiry into ‘Solving the SEND crisis’. The Committee is keen to hear evidence of both the challenges and solutions found across the country.

The MP says that one of the major themes in her casework inbox over 2024 has been SEND provision. With Shropshire Council grappling with severe financial difficulties, parents have reported challenges accessing the support their children need.

Helen has raised the issue multiple times in Parliament and has met officials from the DfE to help resolve some of the serious cases that have been raised with her by North Shropshire families.

Recent data highlights the growing demand for SEND services. The number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) rose by 21% across Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin last year, with 4,620 applications submitted, up from 3,804 the previous year. These figures underscore the strain on local resources and the urgent need for improvements in the system.

Helen is urging parents to contact her office and share their experiences – good, bad, or otherwise – and also wants parents to contact the Select Committee directly during its call for evidence, which ends on the 30th January 2025.

The call for evidence can be read and completed online here.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said, “It’s clear that SEND provision is under immense pressure in Shropshire, and too many families are being let down.

“Hearing directly from parents about their experiences is vital for understanding the true picture on the ground, and means we can offer useful feedback from here in Shropshire to the new inquiry into solving the SEND crisis.

“In a large rural county, transport is a more pressing issue, and I want to make sure that people’s experiences from places like ours are heard loud and clear.

“Whether your experience has been good, bad, or somewhere in between, we want to hear from you. Your stories will help us fight for the resources and support that children in Shropshire deserve.”