MP's Send meeting in parliament positive, says mum

The meeting in parliament looked at children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

A mother who was part of a meeting in parliament for parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) and education professionals said it was a positive event.

It was organised by the Labour MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, Lee Barron, who held a similar session in January in the constituency.

Parent groups, schools, professionals and government representatives were at the meeting last week.

Susan Liverman, from Corby, part of the Not Fine in School campaign, said the point of the round table was to "focus on solutions around exclusion [and] we certainly met that objective."

Susan Liverman is from the Not Fine in School campaign which helps families with children experiencing issues with school attendance

Earlier this year, Barron presented the findings of his first Send community event to the parliamentary Education Select Committee enquiry into Send provision.

The meeting in Westminster included professionals from Lodge Park Academy, Red Kite Special Academy - both in Corby - and the University of Bedfordshire.

Ms Liverman told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos: "The people who are closer to the problem – parents and professionals – are also closer to the solutions."

She said there was an "ongoing commitment" for the groups to meet up, with the next planned for the autumn.

"That output [of the meetings] is to be fed into Westminster and the Department of Education," she said.

She said it was not just school but also "looking at employment and what happens to young people once they enter the world".

Ms Liverman described the meeting as "really important... it has made it me more engaged".

Paul Meadows founded SENDS 4 Dads 10 years ago

Paul Meadows founder of SENDS 4 Dads was also at the meeting.

The group was started in 2015 but he said that since the pandemic it had got "really busy".

He said those at the meeting were told they "should come down [to parliament] again and keep doing this to get the momentum".

Mr Meadows said they hoped to "get out to even more MPs" to talk about their experience of being a parent of a child with Send.