East Staffordshire Family Support Service Hosts MP Jacob Collier to Discuss SEND Crisis
Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire –1st October 2025
East Staffordshire Family Support Service welcomed local MP for Burton and Uttoxeter, Jacob Collier. On 26th September 2025 Mr Collier met with families and young mentors to discuss the pressing challenges within the local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. The visit took place during one of their regular mixed martial arts sessions that are held in partnership with Beyond Black Belt on the High Street in Burton upon Trent.
This meeting was part of East Staffordshire Family Support Service’s project, ‘Family Voice Staffordshire’, which aims to improve the outcomes and services in all areas of the lives of children, young people and their parents/carers. ‘Family Voice Staffordshire’ places parents/carers and their children at the centre and offers a supportive, non-judgemental platform that empowers families to have a voice and be heard.
Focus on Neurodiversity and Family Challenges
Mr Collier spent time listening to parents/carers who shared their direct experiences and concerns regarding the systemic difficulties in accessing timely and appropriate support for their neuro-diverse children. Young mentors also offered their perspectives on the impact of current provisions on family life.
Ian North, the CEO of East Staffordshire Family Support Service stated, “It was a crucial opportunity for our families to directly inform our local MP about the real-world impact of the SEND provision in East Staffordshire. The stories shared today highlight the urgent need for a more supportive and accessible system.”
Informing the National Debate
The insights gathered from the session will be used to inform Jacob Collier’s views ahead of the parliamentary debate on the new Schools White Paper, which is expected to outline significant reforms to the national SEND system.
Speaking after the visit, Jacob Collier MP said, “Hearing first hand from the families and the dedicated young mentors at East Staffordshire Family Support Service is invaluable. Their testimony underscores the crisis in SEND provision. I am committed to taking these experiences directly to Parliament to ensure that any reform put forward in the new White Paper is genuinely focused on delivering the resources and statutory support that our neuro-diverse children and their families deserve.”
East Staffordshire Family Support Service provides free, confidential, and non-judgemental whole family support for families in East Staffordshire, focusing on everything from wellbeing and behaviour to social networks and education. They run various community programmes including ‘Harvey Girls’ and ‘Dads4Dads’, with the goal of enhancing family relationships and children’s wellbeing through fun, structured activities.
Contact: Ian North/ CEO/ 01283 533449/ [email protected]
Click here to view answers to questions from Parents on SEND
Click here to view answers to questions from Young Mentors
