Worcester’s MP has urged the council to bid for more funding to help children with special educational needs and disabilities.

MP Robin Walker met with Worcestershire Children First (WCF) this morning (Tuesday) where he pushed for them to consider expanding specialist provision at Fort Royal School and Regency High School.

He has also encouraged WCF to bid for some of the £1.4 billion in capital funding announced at the last spending review.

It comes as the government published a white paper which outlines new national standards for SEND and alternative provision and aims to produce a “less confrontational system” for children and parents.

Mr Walker said: “Ministers are right to set out to deliver a more dignified experience for children and young people with SEND and to restore families’ confidence in the system.

“I know from my casework that for too many parents it has felt like a battle to get their children’s needs properly identified and met.

“The white paper sets out a potent mix of new national standards, earlier identification of need and more investment in both mainstream and specialist provision, all of which should help if implemented well.”

READ MORE: Special school for children with autism to be built in Malvern

Mr Walker has also welcomed the news that Malvern will soon be home to a new autism school.

It is one of 33 new special schools that has been approved for funding by the Department for Education.

“I am delighted that alongside this (the white paper), one of the 33 new special schools will be in Worcestershire and that this will provide an all-through specialist school for autism.

“I have no doubt that this is needed in our county and I was glad to provide a letter of support for the bid.

“ I congratulate my neighbour Harriett (Baldwin) for all the campaigning she has done to secure this in her patch.

“ I will keep working to make sure we have the specialist provision and the support for mainstream schools to meet the needs of SEN pupils that we need in Worcestershire.”

READ MORE: Charity welcomes plan to build autism school in Malvern

Mr Walker will speak in Parliament today to invite Ministers to give further evidence on the White Paper to the Education Select Committee which he chairs.

This week will also see the first session of the Committee’s Inquiry into persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils in which the committee will delve into the evidence of what has been keeping more children, especially SEND children, away from school in the aftermath of the pandemic.