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Lib Dem leader says SEND parents 'should not worry'

Esme Kenney
Local Democracy Reporting Service
PA Media Ed Davey is about to try and shoot a netball ball. He is holding the ball up in front of his face. Mr Davey has short greying hair and wears a white polo t shirt with a yellow netball vest on with the letters GS on the front. He is holding a Gilbert netball ball which has pink swirls around the logo.PA Media
Sir Ed Davey has been playing netball to reiterate the government should not "drop the ball" on SEND provisions

The leader of the Liberal Democrats has been defending his party's record on services for children with special educational needs (SEND) in Oxfordshire.

Sir Ed Davey said families "should not worry" after the county council scrapped the dedicated cabinet member role for SEND.

Sir Ed, who is the parent of a child with disabilities, is now urging the government to protect SEND children and their families

A Department for Education spokesperson previously said the government "inherited a SEND system left on its knees".

The Liberal Democrats run Oxfordshire County Council, which had a damning Ofsted report two years ago.

The authority has come under fire recently from SEND parents, after the dedicated cabinet role for SEND was merged with the cabinet role for children and young people in May.

When asked about this, Sir Ed said: "I'm not familiar with the details, but I think what it was probably about was saving money and making sure we could take an integrated approach.

"I don't think SEND parents should necessarily worry about that.

"Speaking as a SEND parent myself, I have a lovely boy called John who has quite a profound disability, I'm not worried about names, I'm worried about [the local authority] actually doing the best they can and working with MPs to get the national government to do what it should have been doing years ago."

PA Media An action shot of Ed Davey playing netball. His hand is reaching out to try and steal the ball from a woman on the opposing team. He has a white polo t shirt on with a yellow netball vest with the letters GS on the front and a pair of black shorts. His arms are stretched out mid-reach and he is sticking out his tongue as he concentrates on the ball. The woman to the left of the image has both her hands on the ball, which is a Gilbert netball ball with pink swirling details around the logo. She has short blonde hair and wears a dark purple polo t shirt with a black netball vest on and black shorts. They are in a sports hall and other netball players can just be seen approaching the pair from the background.PA Media
Sir Ed commented on SEND services as the parent of a child with disabilities

Both Sir Ed and Lib Dem education spokesperson Munira Wilson have written to Sir Keir Starmer setting out five fundamental principles for SEND reform.

Sir Ed said if the reforms were adopted they could make "a massive difference" in Oxfordshire.

Part of the proposal suggests spending less on special educational needs transport.

Last year the county council spent more than £25m on home-to-school transport fees and private provision.

The Department for Education spokesperson said the government was providing £740m "to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools".

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