Clive Jones, the Liberal Democrat MP for Wokingham, has called for better early intervention and universal screening for all children for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to be included in the government’s schools white paper, published on Monday..
The government’s white paper pledges £1.6 billion over three years in early years settings, schools and post-16 settings to run targeted group interventions for children showing the “earliest signs” of having special needs.
However, Jones has warned this will not reach enough pupils locally and nationally.
The MP said that parents of SEND children face a postcode lottery, as there are huge differences in support offered in schools and the availability of suitable school places.
He has also warned that the postcode lottery forces parents to face unacceptably long waiting times, and even go through court proceedings to get the correct support for their children.
Many of the Wokingham MP’s previous calls for SEND provision improvements have been included in the white paper.
During a Westminster Hall debate on SEND on November 12, 2025, Jones called for guaranteed minimum SEND training for all teaching staff, and fast-tracked training pathways to tackle backlogs nationwide to end the postcode lottery.
The government included this call in the white paper, which introduces a new requirement for all teachers to receive SEND training, backed by £200 million of funding.
He also called for more places for children with SEND to be created. The government has pledged to create 60,000 new places, including the 10,000 places already delivered, backed by a £3.7 billion investment.
Following the announcement, he said: “Teachers at local schools I’ve visited, along with many parents who have contacted me, have shared just how difficult it is to secure the SEND support their children need.
“The government had an opportunity to guarantee that no child is left behind.
“While there are welcome steps in this White Paper, too many local children remain at risk of falling through the gaps.
“Early intervention must mean early for every child. That requires universal SEND screening and consistent support nationwide, not a postcode lottery that leaves families battling for years to be heard.
“I will continue to stand up for families in Wokingham and push for a system that delivers high-quality support as standard, so every child has the chance to thrive.”
