MP for Shipley Anna Dixon has raised the need for appropriate training for all school staff so that SEND pupils can be best supported.
Ms Dixon, speaking at the Westminster Hall debate on SEND provisions, also criticised the cuts to school funding under the previous government, which contributed to this issue.
Interjecting into the speech of Fred Thomas MP, Dixon said:
“As in my hon. Friend’s constituency, in Shipley the number of pupils with SEND has increased again this year.
“It is putting huge pressure on our teachers and teaching assistants in mainstream schools.
“Does he agree that the cuts to school funding under the previous Government have contributed to the problem, and that further steps need to be taken to ensure appropriate training for all our school staff, particularly those in mainstream schools?”
Fred Thomas MP, continued:
“I completely agree with my hon. Friend’s point about the funding cuts. I was going to respond to a point made by the right hon.
“Member for Tatton (Esther McVey), but I removed it from my contribution due to the time constraints.
“She asked earlier whether the Government had conducted feasibility studies on the removal of VAT exemptions from private schools.
“ I would respond by asking whether the previous Government, which we had since 2010, conducted feasibility studies on SEND when they made deep cuts to education.”