Wokingham MP Clive Jones has been pushing Westminster this month for better support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), saying they are his priority.
The Government has announced £1.6m in new funding this month. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says the cash will be ploughed in over three years across early years settings, schools and post-16 education. She also pledged to create 60,000 new places (including the 10,000 already delivered), backed by a £3.7bn investment, and to run targeted group interventions for children showing the "earliest signs" of SEND.
Mr Jones welcomed some measures but warned that "local children remain at risk of falling through the gaps." He says parents in Wokingham face a postcode lottery, long waits and sometimes court proceedings to secure the right support. Many of his previous calls for SEND improvements have been included in the White Paper.
In a Westminster Hall debate on SEND on 12 November 2025, Jones urged guaranteed minimum SEND training for all teaching staff and fast-tracked training pathways to tackle nationwide backlogs and end the postcode lottery.
"Teachers at local schools I’ve visited, along with many parents who have contacted me, have shared just how difficult it is to secure the SEND support their children need.
"The Government had an opportunity to guarantee that no child is left behind. While there are welcome steps in this White Paper, too many local children remain at risk of falling through the gaps.
"Early intervention must mean early for every child. That requires universal SEND screening and consistent support nationwide, not a postcode lottery that leaves families battling for years to be heard.
"I will continue to stand up for families in Wokingham and push for a system that delivers high-quality support as standard, so every child has the chance to thrive."
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
New Powers to Tackle Wokingham's Pavement Parking
