Lib Dems: invitation from PM on SEND "not forthcoming" despite comments

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
In response to Keir Starmer’s comments this morning on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, where he claimed to have invited other parties to collaborate on solutions to the SEND crisis, Munira Wilson, Education Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said:

"We wrote to the Prime Minister in July offering our support in tackling the SEND crisis, which families up and down the country are desperate to see resolved.

"We stand ready to work together on fixing this broken system, but to do that we need to see an invitation to proper talks and collaboration, which has not yet been forthcoming.

“Our proposals are based on five clear principles: protecting every child’s right to a SEND assessment, boosting special school capacity, improving early identification and cutting waiting lists, supporting local authorities with the resources they need, and providing better training for teachers and school staff.

“Many parents are deeply worried that the Government's proposed reforms will leave their children worse off, with an erosion of the rights that underpin the support they need."

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Starmer's comments on SEND invitation can be found here  - 24 minutes into the interview.