Ministers have been accused of failing children with special needs as dozens of cross-party MPs stood in the House of Commons demanding change to a broken SEND system. Conservative MP Sir David Davis secured a debate on SEND provision and funding where he called for an updated formula and increased capital. Nearly 30 MPs in their constituencies, showing how issues relating to SEND have climbed the political agenda. Davis highlighted research on the lowest funded councils by the F40 group, a group of local authorities, which said the high needs block requires an additional 拢4.6 billion a year. The impact of these pressures 鈥渋s clear for all to see鈥, Davis said, with pupils being sent to schools far away while families 鈥渟truggle to get appropriate support鈥. While the 2014 reforms were 鈥渨ell-intentioned鈥, he added, they 鈥渇ailed to provide resilience in the system to deal with future changes to demand for services鈥. Helen Hayes, Labour鈥檚 shadow children鈥檚 minister, said the current system is 鈥渇ailing children and their families鈥 and is 鈥渂eyond breaking point鈥. She said: 鈥淚t is an increasingly prominent factor in the number of councils issuing section 114 notices鈥攊n effect, declaring bankruptcy鈥攂ecause they can no longer balance their budget.鈥 Labour is yet to set out in detail how her party would change the system, but Hayes said it would 鈥渨ork to make mainstream schools inclusive,鈥 mirroring the government鈥檚 current policy. Labour MP Ian Lavery said one of the government’s 鈥渕ost glaring failures is the failure to provide the necessary funding.鈥 He claimed this year 鈥渢he Northumberland schools high needs block will overspend鈥 for the first time. SEND in minister’s casework load Several MPs highlighted their own experiences. Conservative MP Sir Jake Berry spoke of 鈥渢he struggles of my wife and I as we try to navigate the system鈥 for their six-year-old, non-verbal son. He urged ministers to help councils 鈥渇ast-track鈥 education, health and care plans. A Schools Week investigation last month exposed how companies, backed by private equity investors and running private SEND schools, have made millions in profits amid a state capacity crisis. Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat鈥檚 education spokesperson, said there is 鈥減rofiteering, often by private equity companies鈥 in the independent school sector that is putting 鈥渉uge pressure on local authority budgets鈥. Gareth Thomas, Labour and Co-op, said four special schools in Harrow 鈥渇ace serious financial difficulties鈥 and the council has a 鈥渕uch greater reliance on private SEN schools than the national average鈥. He said the Department for Education has turned down Harrow鈥檚 application for a special school three times, 鈥渆ven though the department accepts that it was an effective bid and worthy of funding鈥. Responding to the debate, children鈥檚 minister David Johnston said the SEND issue was 鈥渁lready in the top two items in my casework and surgery appointments鈥. He said: 鈥淲e know the system is not delivering consistent support and outcomes and that there are significant financial pressures on it, despite considerable Government investment.鈥 鈥淭he system needs reform, which is why we published our SEND and alternative provision improvement plan last year.鈥 Education secretary Gillian Keegan again admitted the system was failing this week. 鈥淲e’re aware of the problems 鈥 we’re working on them,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here is an improvement plan.鈥