NEW SEN FUNDING - £14m for DERBYSHIRE 
We have some fabulous SEN provision within Bolsover, and I continue to work closely with the fabulous Stubbin Wood school in Shirebrook, however more can, and should, be done for our children with additional needs.
I am too often contacted by parents who are finding it difficult to get the support they need for their child in their local school, and when I visit our local schools, and speak with our headteachers, provision and funding for young people with special educational needs is one of the main subjects raised.
Our local authority is required to provide services for children and young people with SEND but we know that it’s not always easy for that provision to be made locally and at the level required.
To help, the Department for Education announced today further investment £850 million into local authorities across the country to improve services. £14 million of this has been allocated to Derbyshire, who can use this money to create new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, and to improve existing buildings to make them more accessible and suitable for all.
This funding is part of a £2.6 billion package that has been committed to improve SEND services between 2022 and 2025, providing over 60,000 new places for children or young people with SEND or who require alternative provision. SEN schooling is a vital part of my plan to help the Bolsover constituency. I will continue to work hard to make sure the Government listens to what we have to say, and every child gets the start in life they truly deserve.
