Chair Emma Hardy MP Vice chair Sally-Ann Hart MP Secretariat provided by NAHT

www.naht.org.uk/appgsend [email protected] @appg_send

Inaugural meeting of the APPG for SEND Tuesday 3 March 2020, 10am – 11.30am

Summary of meeting

Parliamentarians in attendance

Rob Butler MP Conservative Jack Dromey MP Labour Birmingham Erdington Emma Hardy MP Labour Hull West and Hessle Sally-Ann Hart MP Conservative Hastings and Rye

APPG AGM

The officers of the APPG were elected as follows:

Chair Emma Hardy MP Labour Vice Chair Sally-Ann Hart MP Conservative Officer Olivia Blake MP Labour Officer Rob Butler MP Conservative Officer James Daly MP Conservative Officer Marsha de Cordova MP Labour Officer Jack Dromey MP Labour Officer Tim Farron MP Liberal Democrat Officer Julian Sturdy MP Conservative Officer James Sunderland MP Conservative

Introduction to the APPG for SEND

Emma Hardy MP welcomed everyone to the group and spoke about the aim of the group to have SEND issues at the forefront of educational decisions and thinking. She proposed NAHT to provide the Secretariat services for the group which was agreed.

Rob Kelsall, NAHT National Secretary and Secretariat, introduced the work of the APPG and the desire to take the work of the APPG beyond parliament with focus groups in constituencies drawing on the experiences of a wide group of stakeholders. Rob said today’s meeting would be the first and there would be a meeting of the officers to discuss the direction of the APPG and plans for future meetings.

1 Secretariat provided by

Chair Emma Hardy MP Vice chair Sally-Ann Hart MP Secretariat provided by NAHT

www.naht.org.uk/appgsend [email protected] @appg_send

Speakers

David Isaac, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

David spoke about the difficulties young people with SEND face in the admissions process and with exclusions, which are disproportionally for children with SEND. He said that the EHRC was supporting children and families with challenging education decisions that have been made and that parents do not feel empowered to challenge the schools. He said that equality and human rights at the heart of work on SEND and the work of the APPG.

Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of NAHT

Paul spoke about the importance of school leaders, teachers, parents and all involved in education, working together for the benefit of the children and young people. He discussed the need to influence politicians and decision makers, which attending this APPG would provide an opportunity for. He reported that NAHT would be delivering a letter from special school leaders to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street later that day, alongside MPs.

Sabrina Hobbs, Principal at Severndale Specialist Academy, Shrewsbury

Sabrina introduced her school as the only special school in Shropshire with over 400 children. She described the current funding situation for her school as insufficient and inequitable. She reported her school was getting an increasing number of children moving from the mainstream, but the banding top-ups and a post code lottery around heath care needs and provision, was causing difficulties.

Marijke Miles, Head Teacher at Baycroft School, Fareham and Chair of NAHT SEND Sector Council

Marijke said that fair funding had to be at the heart of special school provision, and she described difficulties that her school was facing also. She described it as the art of neglect to underfund special schools and not to invest in these young people at school age.

Steve Hughes, Executive Head Teacher at Wilson Stuart School, Birmingham

Steve further emphasised the funding issues that special schools were facing, with an increase in pupils on EHCPs and an increase in the number of pupils attending special schools.

2 Secretariat provided by

Chair Emma Hardy MP Vice chair Sally-Ann Hart MP Secretariat provided by NAHT

www.naht.org.uk/appgsend [email protected] @appg_send

Contributions from the floor

Attendees had the opportunity to make contributions from the floor. There was also a written briefing with submissions for organisations who had submitted briefing notes on their organisation and their work.

The Chair closed the meeting at 10.30am.

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