I was delighted to be able to attend SEND Reform England's drop-in session and to discuss some harrowing cases of parents not being able to obtain an Education and Health Care Plans for their children.

We discussed that all parties need to have an increased commitment to SEND in their manifestos. This should not only include adequate resources but, importantly, stronger standards in the criteria for obtaining EHCPs. This would end the postcode lottery where parents in one area can obtain one but a child with identical conditions in a different area cannot.

It is heartening that many of the problems which children suffer from are increasingly being understood but the provision through ECHP simply has not kept up with these advances.

If you live in my constituency and are experiencing any of these issues then please do not hesitate to contact me and I will see what I can do to help.