(UK) Portsmouth: Plans for "specialist Early Years Inclusion Centre"; dozens have no place

Aug 11, 2025, HelloRayo: Portsmouth campaigners say changes to special needs education will make "massive difference" 

https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/south-coast/news/portsmouth-campaigners-say-changes-to-special-needs-education-will-make-massive-difference 

S. Coast

Portsmouth campaigners are saying reducing the two term funding time limit will have a "massive difference".

Changes were agreed to the SEND Inclusion Fund for pupils with emerging needs in early years settings, including the removal of the two-term time restriction.

The change means funding will now be available immediately as opposed to having to wait for two terms to access support.

Lamara Fudge, a campaigner and parent to two SEND children , said: "Children are our future, if we don't put the money into them whilst they're young, and support them whilst they're young, we're going to have more problems when they're older.

"I think that getting this support much earlier on is going to have such an impact.

"These children are not going to fall behind their peers as much.

"Yes, there may be children who will still fall behind, but there are children out there that need this support. . . .

According to the latest figures, dozens of children with SEND in Portsmouth currently have no early years setting to be able to accommodate them.

Plans are also underway for the creation of a specialist Early Years Inclusion Centre, which would provide 15 full-time equivalent places for children with identified needs.

She told us what she feels needs to be done in future.

Ms Fudge added: "We need to start listening to SEND parents.

"These are parents that spend a lot of time with their children and they know them inside and out.

"Whether it's a doctor's, school, whoever it is, we need to listen to SEND parents.

"But what do we need?

"Funding.

"Funding is a massive thing that we need and everything at the end of the day comes down to funding."