LUKE Murphy MP has called for urgent reform in the provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), claiming that the current system is "broken."

Basingstoke’s Member of Parliament, Luke Murphy, passionately advocated for urgent reforms to the SEND system in a Westminster Hall debate last week, highlighting the pressing issues facing families and local authorities.

Murphy was joined by members of the Basingstoke Kids Nursery Parent Committee and during the debate he shared stories from parents in his constituency who have faced an uphill battle for their children’s education.

The debate was featured on ITV Meridian news on Friday, November 1, where mum Michelle Whiting shared her thoughts following the debate: “They deserve to have the same education as neurotypical children, and at the moment they're not getting that.

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Luke Murphy, the parents and practitioners from Kids Charity Nursery, and Catherine McKinnell MP (Minister of state for School Standards).Luke Murphy, the parents and practitioners from Kids Charity Nursery, and Catherine McKinnell MP (Minister of state for School Standards). (Image: Zander West)

"It's good that it’s being acknowledged and hopefully change will come."

Murphy detailed the immense strain on families navigating an adversarial SEND system as he welcomed the Labour Government’s recent Budget commitment to boost funding for SEND provision by £1 billion.

However, he urged cross-party collaboration to ensure sustained, targeted support for SEND families and noted that comprehensive reform, with the government working alongside parents and providers, is needed alongside funding in order to deliver real change to parents.

Discussing the debate with the Basingstoke Gazette, Luke Murphy MP said "As one local parent told me ‘it shouldn’t be this hard, and it doesn’t need to be this hard’.

"I’ve met parents who are exhausted, constantly filling out forms, attending endless appointments, and fighting for their children to receive the support they’re entitled to.

"The current SEND system is broken – it is financially unsustainable and, as the National Audit Office recently reported, is failing to meet the needs of our young people.

"I was pleased to see the government announce an additional £1 billion for SEND in last week's budget, and I’m looking forward to working with ministers to ensure that every child receives the education they both need and deserve."