The Conservatives 鈥渄idn鈥檛 do enough鈥 to fix the SEND crisis and 鈥渟hould hang our heads in shame鈥, according to one of the party鈥檚 shadow education ministers.聽 Gagan Mohindra told the party鈥檚 annual conference that Hertfordshire council, in his constituency, 鈥渉as invested more money into SEND provision but actually, it鈥檚 awful鈥. He told a NASUWT union fringe event: 鈥淚 hold my hand up as a Conservative member of parliament saying: my government didn鈥檛 do enough on this.聽 鈥淵es we were fighting both the pandemic and the cost of living crisis and the rest of it, but actually the inability for politicians to step in when those most in need needed our support, I think is something we should hang our heads in shame and apologise for, and I鈥檒l happily do that on stage today.鈥 Hertfordshire has 鈥渨idespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns鈥 about children with SEND, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission found when when they gave it the lowest rating in a joint area SEND inspection last year.聽 ‘Fix is not overnight’ Mohindra, appointed in July, said the 鈥渇ix is not overnight鈥 in Hertfordshire and will involve building new schools, but added: 鈥淚 do think it will take parents and local communities being vocal, and as a Conservative that鈥檚 quite an unusual place to be, to say to elected members at all levels that actually this needs to be a priority” Patrick Roach, NASUWT’s general secretary, said he could be 鈥渧ery critical鈥 of the previous government鈥檚 SEND work but 鈥渆ven the current government hasn鈥檛 got the answer鈥.聽 鈥淭his is really, really difficult stuff鈥 and challenging stuff to get right and work out what is going to be most effective.鈥 The union has written to chancellor Rachel Reeves to 鈥渕ake the argument about SEND amongst other things鈥. Mohindra added he wanted to see 鈥渆volution of education that says actually how do we educate鈥 youngsters to have 鈥渢he confidence and the soft skills to be successful鈥. He acknowledged the new government was looking at curriculum and Ofsted ratings, 鈥渂ut in my mind that鈥檚 playing around the edges鈥.聽 He also told the event he was the “interim” shadow minister in education. A Conservative leadership contest is ongoing, meaning shadow ministerial positions may change.