Luke Murphy MP has raised the issue of struggles faced by Basingstoke families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in one of his questions in the House of Commons.

Addressing the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, on Monday, September 9, Mr Murphy put the spotlight on the "obstacles" families in Basingstoke endure to secure even the most basic recognition of their children's needs.

"On doorsteps in surgeries and over emails - countless stories from families across Basingstoke - have told me of the obstacles they have to go through just to have the barest acknowledgement of their child's needs, only to go through a similar obstacle course in order for them to be assessed and then yet again for them to get the help they are legally entitled to," the MP said.

"Can the secretary of state offer families in Basingstoke, with experience of this failing system, some hope they can expect better in the future?"

Luke Murphy MP in the House of CommonsLuke Murphy MP in the House of Commons (Image: Parliamentlive.tv)

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"I can give him that commitment," said education secretary Bridget Phillipson in her response.

Acknowledging the gravity of the issue, Ms Phillipson said she heard firsthand the concerns of Basingstoke families when she joined Mr Murphy for his general election campaign.

Ms Phillipson also recalled comments made by the previous education secretary, Gilian Keegan, who had described the existing SEND system as a "lose, lose, lose" situation.

"I agree with," Phillipson said, but added that the government is "determined to turn that around."

"That is why we have already restructured the department of education with much more of a focus on support for children with SEND as part of our schools provision," she said.