Rachel Gilmour MP warns of 'lost generation of children'

Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead and member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on the government to take urgent action following the latest PAC report.

The report highlights that many families struggle to access the special educational needs (SEN) support they desperately need.

The system is said to favour parents and carers who can better navigate the often chaotic process.

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Rachel Gilmour calls for urgent action on SEN support crisis (Image: UK Parliament) The report also highlights a postcode lottery, with massive variation across the country in families’ wait times for education, health, and care (EHC) plans.

In Devon, only 4.9 per cent of new EHC plans were issued within 20 weeks.

In Somerset, 42.1 per cent of new EHC plans were issued within the same 20-week period.

The government attributed lengthening EHC plan waiting times to increasing demand.

However, the Department for Education (DfE) does not fully understand why demand for support has increased.

Since 2015, an additional 1.14 million children have received SEN support in schools, a 14 per cent rise.

The demand for EHC plans has soared by 140 per cent since 2015.

The report recommends that the DfE should, within six months, set out the provision which children with SEN should expect, with an articulation of how inclusive education will be achieved, and how schools will be held to account.

Rachel Gilmour said: "There are extremely concerning findings identified by the Public Accounts Committee in this report.

"It is clear that without a comprehensive and joined-up response from central and local government, SEN children in Devon and Somerset will be left behind.

"The evidence given to my colleagues and me on the committee has exposed the problems in this SEN emergency.

"What we need is action now."