Further to the announcement by Norfolk County Council to cut SEND funding, I  convened another Headteacher's Forum with the headteachers in my patch to get their take on the current situation they are faced with.   From the meeting I am extremely concerned that these cuts are leaving schools in a very difficult position, with some schools having had their funding cut by half. The message I received loud and clear is that ‘the system is broken’. 

I have a meeting with the Leader of Norfolk County Council, Kay Mason Billig and the Director of Children's Services, Sarah Tough in the diary and I was very keen therefore to get Headteacher's feedback on the SEND issue and on the following:

• Ofsted Reform
• Absenteeism
• Transgender government guidance

I will be taking the feedback I have received directly to Norfolk County Council at that meeting, and will be writing to the new Secretary of State for Education to request a meeting with her so that I can ensure that all schools’ voices are heard loud and clear.

I will be setting up another Head Teacher’s Forum in the new year – so that I can continue to stand up locally and in Westminster on behalf of our schools and the next generation. 

To see more about my ‘Fairer Rural Schools Funding and Support’ campaign work, please visit my campaign page here.