'Too many SEND families are being let down' - MP says provision is under 'immense' pressure in Shropshire

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

Her call comes after the launch of the Education Select Committee’s new inquiry into 'Solving the SEND crisis'. The committee wants to hear evidence of both the challenges and solutions found across the country. 

Mrs Morgan said that one of the major themes in her casework inbox this year has been SEND provision. 

She added that with Shropshire Council grappling with financial difficulties, parents have reported challenges accessing the support their children need.

The Liberal Democrat MP has raised the issue in Parliament and met with officials from the Department for Education (DfE) to try and resolve some of the serious cases that have been raised with her by families from North Shropshire. 

Mrs Morgan said recent data has highlighted the growing demand for SEND services. 

She said the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) rose by 21 per cent across Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin last year, with 4,620 applications submitted, up from 3,804 the previous year. 

The North Shropshire MP said these figures "underscore the strain on local resources and the urgent need for improvements in the system". 

Mrs Morgan 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 search for for evidence, which ends on January 30.

She said: "It is 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."

Read more and provide your evidence online at https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8684/solving-the-send-crisis/.