Sherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh writes open letter to Nottinghamshire County Council leader Mick Barton

An MP has written an open letter to the new leader of Nottinghamshire County Council to raise her concerns about the future of special educational needs (SEND) services under the Reform party.

Following national comments from a Reform spokesperson referring to children with SEND as ‘naughty kids’ , Sherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh, wrote the letter to council leader Mick Barton.

The MP has met with headteachers, special educational needs coordinators, and school staff from across the community, and they all raised special education needs and disabilities provision as the most ‘pressing and challenging issue they face’.

She wrote in her letter: “Equally worrying were the remarks made by a Reform spokesperson during the local election campaign, dismissing many children with additional needs as simply “naughty kids” or blaming “bad parenting”.

“These deeply unhelpful and harmful characterisations have left parents fearful about the values and priorities now shaping local SEND provision.

“Our children deserve far better.

“They deserve to have their needs recognised, understood and supported — not undermined or dismissed.

“Parents deserve the confidence that their children will be safe, included, and able to thrive in our local schools.”

She went on to write about how the Labour government had inherited a “broken SEND system that had failed too many for too long”.

In her email, the MP was seeking the council leader’s assurance that Nottinghamshire would not turn its back on the Government’s investment of an additional £1 billion to support families and improve SEND Services, alongside £740 million to create school places for children with additional needs.

The letter concluded: “I urge you to publicly back the Government’s work to deliver on this ambition and to provide your own commitment that local SEND services will be protected and improved under your leadership.

“Our families, schools, and — most importantly — our children need to know that their needs will be met with compassion, professionalism, and respect.”