Aug 2, 2022, Chronicle Live: Northumberland Labour outline plans for SEND hubs to end children traveling miles for education In some cases young children have to travel from Prudhoe to as far away as Blyth or Morpeth https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northumberland-send-education-pupil-travel-24642884.amp
Northern England
A member of Northumberland County Council's shadow cabinet has backed a policy she hopes will put an end to young people with disabilities forced to travel miles away from home for education.
Coun Angie Scott, who represents Prudhoe North and is shadow cabinet member for Children's Services, has welcomed the news Northumberland Labour has committed to investment in 'specialist hubs' in the event they take control of the council.
In its manifesto for last year's local elections, the party explained that the policy would make sure provision was available to families across Northumberland, in a bid to avoid costly out-of-county placements and additional stress on families.
Leader Scott Dickinson has confirmed the work would continue if Labour became the largest party in 2025. Coun Scott, who herself has a child with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) welcomed the news.
She said: "The purpose of the hubs is to provide opportunity for children with complex SEND to be included in a mainstream environment alongside their peers. Therefore the ‘hubs’ are adapted classrooms within the school buildings….
Northumberland Labour leader Coun Scott Dickinson with Coun Angie Scott a(Image: Northumberland Labour)