Graham has continued the fight for Special Educational Needs funding in Parliament, highlighting the fact that the East Riding of Yorkshire receives the lowest per-pupil funding of any local authority in England, at £968.64. In contrast, children with special educational needs in Camden receive £3,564.95 while in Hull they get £1,255.18 in Central Government funding.
The campaigning MP asked the question in Department for Education Estimates – where government departments lay out their spending plans and MPs have the chance to scrutinise them.
Graham is a long-standing champion for the rights of pupils. As a former chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee (2010-2015) he has fought for a ‘national floor’ for funding to be established.
Graham organised a well-attended debate on the distribution of SEND funding in Parliament in June and has worked closely with East Riding cabinet member Cllr Victoria Aitken for many years.
Graham also led a debate on Down Syndrome in Westminster Hall, calling on the government to issue guidance required by the landmark Down Syndrome Act 2022.
He also works with East Riding MPs David Davis and Charlie Dewhirst to raise this vital issue in Parliament as well as f40, the campaign for fair school funding by local authorities.
Graham visits schools across Beverley and Holderness regularly, including visits to Swinemoor Primary School, Withernsea High School, Patrington Primary School, Inmans Primary School and Beverley Sixth Form in recent months.
He’s also welcomed pupils from Beverley High School, Withernsea High School and Patrington Primary School to Parliament in recent months and is always delighted to welcome school groups, who should contact his office via email at [email protected] to make arrangements.
Graham said “Whenever I talk to parents of children with special educational needs, I’m struck by not only how loving they are but by how much they have to fight for their children.
“Children with special educational needs deserve to have similar support whether they’re in the East Riding, Hull or Camden.
“It’s not right that East Riding Council is being asked to do the same, or more, with less and I’m making that case in Parliament.”
