THURROCK MP Jen Craft welcomed education minister Georgia Gould to West Thurrock Academy today (Thursday, 6 November), to discuss special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support. 

The minister, who took responsibility for SEND policy in September, joined Mrs Craft on a tour of the school's specialist provision, before leading a feedback and Q&A session with local parents.  

The visit formed part of the Government's engagement with parents and educators, ahead of national reforms to the SEND system expected in the new year.  

Herself a parent to a child with additional needs, Mrs Craft is a strong advocate for SEND families and Thurrock is one of the first areas the minister has visited as part of this consultation. 

The event comes off the back of a report prepared by Mrs Craft on the experiences of SEND families in her constituency.  

Based on surveys of more than 150 parents, professionals, and young people, the research found that more than half of families (54%) felt their child did not get enough help at school.  

Data also showed that one in five families (21%) felt their child needed more specialist support in education, while a third of parents and carers (34%) highlighted the efforts of staff to meet the needs of their child.  

Mrs Craft shared the findings with the Department for Education to ensure they are considered in upcoming changes to the SEND system. 

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The Government's Schools White Paper – which is expected to set out changes to the SEND system – will be published in the new year, to allow time for a period of engagement and co-creation with parents, educators and experts, through sessions like the one being run in Thurrock.  

Mrs Craft was joined today by Cllrs Vickki Hartstean (portfolio holder for children's services), Steve Liddiard and Aaron Green, who helped facilitate the event.

"I've been working hard to make sure parents get the chance to set out their priorities for change, so it's fantastic that the Minister has chosen to hold one of her first engagement events here in Thurrock. 

West Thurrock Academy, formerly West Thurrock Primary, converted to a single-academy trust in 2013 when it moved to new premises on Schoolfield Road, vacating its former site, The Rookery, on the other side of London Road. Its history can be tracked back to November 1908!

It is currently rated good following an Ofsted inspection in 2022.