2 February 2023
An update on the SEND in The Specialists coalition which was launched on 2 November 2022.
On 2 November 2022, over 110 organisations wrote to the Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, and Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, calling on them to invest in the specialist workforce.
As we await the government’s response to the letter, we wanted to give an update on the coalition’s work.
Our letter was covered in: Children and Young People Now, Nursery World, Neuro Rehab Times, SEN Magazine, Special Needs Jungle and the BBC.
The letter also secured extensive promotion on social media, as collated in Wakelet.
New members
The coalition now stands at 125 members.
We apologise to the British Deaf Association who were missed off the original letter when they should have been included.
In addition, since 2 November the following organisations have joined: The Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Intermediaries for Justice, Dyspraxia Foundation, Praxis Care, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Different Strokes, Prison Reform Trust, Become, Together for Short Lives and SignHealth.
Parliamentary activity
In a parliamentary debate on 14 November 2022, Robin Walker MP, now Chair of the Education Select Committee, highlighted the letter.
On 8 December 2022, Geraint Davies MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Speech and Language Difficulties, brought together officers from 16 APPGs calling on the government to invest in the specialist workforce.
The MPs and peers wrote to Gillian Keegan and Steve Barclay echoing the coalition’s calls.
Geraint has also tabled a series of written parliamentary questions on:
- Whether the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has undertaken an assessment of gaps in the specialist workforce
- What plans DHSC has to undertake such an assessment as a follow-up to his previous question
- Whether the Department for Education (DfE) has undertaken an assessment of gaps in the specialist workforce
- What gaps the DfE has identified in the specialist workforce
- What discussions DHSC and DfE have had with each other about gaps in the specialist workforce
- When DHSC plans to respond to the coalition’s letter
- When DfE plans to respond to the coalition’s letter
- When DHSC plans to respond to the APPGs’ letter
- When DfE plans to respond to the APPGs’ letter
Munira Wilson MP has also tabled some relevant written questions on:
Next steps
The coalition is now preparing for the publication of the government’s SEND and AP Improvement Plan.
If you would like more information, please contact elissa.cregan@rcslt.org.
RCSLT leads coalition calling for investment in the specialist workforce
The RCSLT has brought together a coalition of over 110 organisations
Recovering urgent and emergency care services
Our statement on the new NHS England plan for recovering urgent and emergency care services
Tell us about your vacancy and recruitment issues
Fill out our short survey on your vacancy rates and recruitment issues
