6 July 2022
Sir Mike Penning calls for more government investment in SEND provision in Hemel Hempstead

Sir Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, spoke in Parliament this week and called on the Government to provide funding for more special educational needs schools in Hemel Hempstead.

Speaking in Education Questions, Sir Mike welcomed the Green Paper on changes to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) system which is currently out for consultation.

Sir Mike called on the Minister to look at SEND provision in Hemel Hempstead.

He said:

“The problem in Hertfordshire is capacity, because the special educational needs schools in my constituency, which are brilliant, are full and double-oversubscribed.”

In response, Minister Will Quince MP said he would look into it closely.

Speaking afterwards, Sir Mike said:

“I will continue to pursue this. It is very clear from my casework that there is much more demand than the local schools can provide. I am passionate about ensuring that every child in the Hemel Hempstead constituency gets the education and support they need.”

The consultation on the Green Paper entitled “SEND Review: Right support, right place, right time” can be found on the https://consult.education.gov.uk/ website. Closing date is 22 July 2022.

 

Sir Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con)

My hon. Friend the Minister knows my passion for looking after children and young people around the SEND sector. I welcome the Green Paper and the consultation, because this is a debate that we have needed to have for some considerable time. But the issue in Hertfordshire is going to be around capacity, because the special educational needs schools in my constituency, which are brilliant, are full and double-oversubscribed. This is not all about money—it is sometimes about how it is provided—but there are serious financial problems in Hertfordshire, and I wonder if he would look at that seriously for me.

Will Quince (Minister for Children and Families)

My right hon. Friend has raised this issue with me on numerous occasions. He is a doughty champion for children with SEND and their parents and carers in his constituency. Of course I will look at this very closely. These are not just words: we are backing this up with £2.6 billion of capital funding to build about 33,000 or 34,000 SEND places across our country, including in Hertfordshire.