Recently I was invited by the Head Teacher of Fairfields School, Mrs Lesley Felder, to visit the school in Northampton. I visited several times over the years and I used to visit dressed as Father Christmas!
Fairfields School, which has been ranked “outstanding” by Ofsted, is a primary school for those with special educational needs such as profound learning disabilities, communication difficulties and physical disabilities.
During my recent visit I toured the school’s facilities with Mrs Felder, discussed the Government’s policy towards special schools and challenges facing those running special needs education facilities.
I welcome the Government support given to students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), such as £2.6 billion in investment over a 3 year period to help deliver additional school places and improve existing provisions for children and young people with special needs. I have also been following the publication of the recent Department for Education SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan which outlines new proposals to meet the needs of children with SEND and support the parents by creating a SEND provision system that is easier to navigate to help improve early years diagnosis.
I will continue to lobby for increased funding towards local services that support the provision of special needs education, and I commend the staff of Fairfields for their diligence in caring for the wellbeing of their pupils. They will continue to have my support in providing an excellent quality of education to children with SEND.
(Photo Above Left: Michael Ellis MP outside Fairfields School in Trinity Avenue, Northampton)