After months of campaigning, St Albans MP Daisy Cooper has welcomed a major decision which could mean more money for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Hertfordshire.
The Liberal Democrat MP has been trying to get the government to investigate and fix a huge shortfall in central funding for SEND support.
In 2021/22, funding for SEND in Hertfordshire worked out at an average of £430 per pupil. The average figure for neighbouring counties was £601 per pupil – a huge £171 difference.
Now, after fifteen months of campaigning by Daisy and Hertfordshire Liberal Democrat County Councillors, the government has agreed to look into it.
After first raising the issue in a meeting with the relevant Minister in December 2021, Daisy has spent months trying to secure the relevant financial information from Hertfordshire County Council.
On 9 January, Daisy wrote to the Minister again and asked all other Hertfordshire MPs to join her in lobbying the government.
The Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing Claire Coutinho MP responded to Daisy on 21 February to confirm that an investigation will be launched into the data used to arrive at the funding decisions.
Daisy Cooper MP said:
“I know from my constituency surgeries that parents in St Albans often face an uphill battle to get their children the right SEND support.
“Insufficient funding is a huge part of the problem and it’s just unfair that pupils with SEND in Hertfordshire are missing out – even compared to those in neighbouring counties – because of the government’s flawed funding formula.
“This decision by the government to investigate this is very welcome, and a big step forward.
“Now I’ll be pressing for a meeting with the Minister to ensure that children in St Albans and across Hertfordshire have a fighting chance of getting the help they need.”