The Government has announced £3bn to create 50,000 new school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities across England.
Norfolk will receive extra funding rather than waiting years for new schools. This money will be used to expand existing schools, create specialist bases inside mainstream settings, and adapt facilities to meet children’s needs. I welcome this change. I prefer funding to go to councils rather than free schools. Councils are democratically accountable and better placed to plan provision. This means decisions are made closer to families, and places can be delivered sooner and nearer to home.
This is a welcome step forward, but local parents, headteachers and forums say staffing and clarity remain significant concerns. By clarity, they mean clear information on where new places will be created, when they will open, and how provision will be organised in Norfolk. They also want more day‑to‑day funding to cover the costs of teachers, support staff and specialist services that make a real difference in classrooms.
They worry that without trained teachers, support staff and clear guidance, new buildings alone will not meet children’s needs.
I will keep supporting parents, headteachers and local forums, including SEND Reform England campaigners, Norfolk County Council, and local SEND parent groups, in pressing for more. That means long‑term funding and workforce planning, as well as much-needed extra capital investment.