Chris Coghlan

Chris Coghlan

Liberal Democrat — Dorking and Horley

Speaking in the House of Commons on 15 September 2025

Debate

Children with SEND: Assessments and Support

Contribution

I entirely agree, because by the age of three a child has 1,000 trillion brain connections, but that declines to 500 trillion by adolescence. That is why the earlier the intervention, the more effective the outcome and the lower the total cost. That is even before we consider the cost of a parent who has to leave work to look after a child unable to cope at school, or an adult who ends up in social services instead of a job. The Government must resist the siren calls of local authorities to reduce SEND rights. There are too many people in despair right now, but if the Government focus on early intervention for our children, they can set out a path for hope.

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