Why it matters: The visit came ahead of the Government's announcement on Monday, 9 February, that it would write off more than £150 million of Suffolk County Council's historic SEND deficit, cancelling 90 per cent of the £168 million gap built up through rising demand and costs.
The details: During the visit, Minister Gould and Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, spoke to parents and school staff about their experiences with SEND services.
Discussions focused on the practical challenges faced by schools in supporting children with additional needs, including delays in Education, Health and Care Plans, access to specialist provision, and the impact on children's wellbeing, inclusion and behaviour.
The big picture: Nationally, the Labour Government says it has begun taking decisive action to stabilise and reform the SEND system.
In the Budget, it announced a £1 billion uplift for SEND and alternative provision funding, representing six per cent real-terms growth, alongside £740 million to deliver 10,000 new SEND places and a £200 million landmark SEND teacher training programme.
Suffolk is set to benefit significantly from new Government investment, with the county receiving £9.4 million in High Needs Provisional Capital Allocation for 2025-26.
According to the source material, this funding will ensure that children with additional needs have access to modern, well-equipped and purpose-built facilities that enable them to flourish.
Last summer, the Government announced over 100 new SEND places across Suffolk, including a 24-place unit at Ipswich Academy and expansions at schools such as The Bridge School, Warren School, West Row Academy, Burton End Primary Academy and Clements Primary Academy.
According to Abbott, these additional places are already helping families and form part of a wider programme to strengthen SEND provision across the county.
The other side: Suffolk County Council welcomed the Government's decision to write off more than £150 million of its historic SEND deficit, but warned that the authority still did not know how the gap would grow over the next two years.
A spokesperson for the council said: "That support will make a real difference and will reduce the cost of carrying this debt. But it doesn't remove the pressure completely."
Without any intervention, the council says the gap would have grown to £356 million.
What they're saying: Minister Georgia Gould said: "Visiting The Willows Primary School in Ipswich with Jack Abbott MP was an important opportunity to see firsthand how SEND provision is working on the ground in Suffolk. Walking around the school, it was powerful to see the dedication of staff who are working so hard to support children's individual needs, from small group sessions to bespoke timetables.
"The roundtable with parents provided an open and honest conversation about the current system that just doesn't work for their children, reinforcing the importance of ensuring reform is shaped by the lived experiences of families and schools.
"I left the school with a strong sense of hope: the commitment of staff and the advocacy of parents show that real, positive change is possible. Through the Labour Government's upcoming Schools White Paper, there is an opportunity to make a tangible difference for children. I'm grateful to everyone at The Willows for sharing their experiences so honestly."
Jack Abbott said: "Although SEND is now a national issue, children and families in Suffolk have been failed for a decade.
"No-one thinks current SEND services are working. It is a system that works against children and families, not for them. So, ahead of the Schools White Paper, I wanted to bring the Minister to Ipswich so she could talk to families and teachers about their experiences ahead of changes to this broken system.
"I welcome the Government's decision to write off the vast majority of Suffolk's historic SEND deficit, which provides substantial and immediate relief. However, while funding and finance is crucial, Suffolk County Council must take accountability for the years of failure they have overseen.
"I will continue to fight for children and families to deliver real change at both a local and a national level, so that every child with SEND in Suffolk receives the support they need and deserve."
For context: Abbott says he has long campaigned on SEND issues in Suffolk during his tenure as an MP. As Labour's Education Spokesperson on Suffolk County Council, he was part of a cross-party panel that put forward plans to deliver more than 800 new SEND school places. While championing those plans, he says he consistently warned that additional places alone would not be a "magic bullet" without wider systemic reform.
What's next: The Labour Government's upcoming Schools White Paper on SEND will set out a national plan for a more inclusive, support-first education system, according to the Government.
The Government says it aims to strengthen early identification and intervention, improve mainstream school capacity, provide clearer guidance for joined-up education, health and care services, and ensure funding and workforce development meet the needs of every child.
Minister Gould said that the Government planned £3 billion of capital funding for mainstream units and special schools, as well as extra training for teachers and other school staff.
According to the Government, the White Paper will build on conversations with schools, parents and campaigners to deliver lasting reform and ensure children and young people with SEND are properly supported to thrive.
The bottom line: The ministerial visit to Ipswich forms part of the Government's consultation process as it prepares its Schools White Paper on SEND reform, with Suffolk set to receive £9.4 million in new funding for the 2025-26 financial year.
