Political Opinion with Alison Bennett MP: Fixing SEND is not negotiable

Last week, the Government set out its plans to reform the system supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. From my inbox to conversations on doorsteps across Mid Sussex, one thing is clear: fixing SEND is not negotiable. For many local families, it determines whether their child gets the support they need to learn, develop and thrive.

For too long, the system has been overstretched, under-resourced and sometimes antagonistic. Parents tell me they feel forced to fight at every stage; battling for assessments, for support to be implemented, and for appropriate placements so that their children’s needs are catered for.

One of the major concerns that my Lib Dem colleagues and I have is the growing role of private equity firms and offshore investors buying up SEND providers. Local authority spending on private provision has soared, with some areas reporting costs up to ten times higher than in 2015. In West Sussex, County Council spending on private SEND providers reached over £66,000 in 2024/25, an increase of nearly 280% since 2015/16. That is a massive rise.

Public money must go where it belongs: to children and families, not excessive profits. I welcome the fact that ministers have finally listened to Liberal Democrat calls for tighter oversight of private SEND providers. But they must go further. We need an 8% cap on profits and for SEND schools to be given Critical National Infrastructure status (the same protection afforded to essential services like water and energy). That would help prevent dodgy backroom deals and ensure stability in a system families depend on.

The government’s proposals are a good first step in addressing the issues plaguing the SEND system, but the devil will be in the detail. Not only do we need to make changes to make sure that this support is viable and functional, but we need to restore trust with families. Many of them have fought tooth and nail for their children in a system that they often felt was working against them, and there are now real fears that these hard-earned rights may be taken away.

As I told ITV last week, childhood is short and precious. Too many young people have lost so much time because of the failing SEND system. Getting this right is not optional.