Chris attends film screening exposing failures in SEND provision

I attended the premiere of Unauthorised Absence Film, the work of brilliant writer and SEND Mum Jo Clayton and her team. As a politician I’ve struggled to convey the agony of SEND families. My hope is that this emotional film will finally do this in a similar way to Alan Bates and the Postmasters. The awful reality is that hundreds of children are avoidably taking their own lives across the country due to state underfunding, brutalisation and misconduct. Politicians, civil servants and council officers look the other way while the government plans to reduce these children’s legal protections in favour of the very institutions causing them harm.  I am determined that those who failed to act are left in embarrassed silence, those guilty of criminal misconduct face prosecution, and that we achieve a just SEND system in our country.

I urge everyone to watch Unauthorised Absence Film - a vital 15 minute short film conveying the reality of SEND families. This film could change how the country views SEND. Written by Surrey SEND Mum Jo Clayton. Aspects of the main character Thea are based on my constituent Jen Bridges-Chalkley: