Councils must listen to parents on SEND
The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats has said councils must work with parents and teachers to deliver for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Daisy Cooper spoke to residents in Westerham, Kent, on Monday in the run-up to Thursday's local elections.
Provisions for SEND pupils have been a challenge for councils across the UK, with growing demand and tight budgets.
But Cooper told the BBC: "What I've been hearing is that there are parents and teachers who have solutions."
She said the Liberal Democrats would create a national body for SEND and ensure funding for children with particularly acute and high level needs was provided.
"But locally, what we've been saying is that there does need to be a much greater focus on working closely with parents and teachers," she said.
Speaking during Cooper's visit, one parent, Claire, said: "If you can get the special education needs provisions right in the early days, you can save so much wasted money and tribunals.
"Fundamentally, you judge a society by how well they look after their most disadvantaged."
Another parent told the BBC it was important the council ensured children get a "fair start in life".
There are a number of other issues at the front of people's minds as they prepare to cast their vote - the chief among which seemed to be potholes.
Voters in 23 local authorities across England will go to the polls on Thursday to choose their new councillors, with mayors also up for election across six regions.
It will be the first big electoral test for the parties since last summer's general election, and more than half of the council seats up for grabs are currently held by the Conservatives.
Kent County Council has been dominated by the Conservatives for the last three decades.
This year, the Lib Dems and other parties are confident of making gains, which could mean no party has an overall majority on the council, leading to a coalition.
When asked if her party would enter into a coalition with the Conservatives in Kent, Cooper said: "Look, we're not taking any votes for granted and a decision on whatever happens after Thursday is a decision for local politicians.
"We don't give any national guidelines."
Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has admitted May's local elections are "going to be very difficult" for the Conservatives.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme July's general election was a "historic defeat" for the party.
"Two-thirds of the seats four years ago we won - there's no way we are going to be able to do that again," she said.
Nigel Farage's Reform UK is standing more candidates than the Conservatives and Labour, and is contesting 99.4% of the available seats.
The Green Party is aiming for a "record" number of councillors as it looks to increase its power base for an eighth election in a row, party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has said.
Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
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