Every Pair Tells a Story: The Human Cost of a Broken SEND System
10th of November 2025
Recently, I joined parents and campaigners outside Norfolk County Hall for “Every Pair Tells a Story.” The steps of County Hall were lined with rows of empty shoes, each pair representing a child who has been failed by the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. It was a powerful sight, both moving and enraging. Behind each set of shoes was a story of a family pushed to the edge by a system that has promised help, only to deliver delay and bureaucracy.
Standing there, surrounded by those empty shoes, I felt a mix of grief and rage at how badly these children have been let down. The SEND crisis is not new. It is not unforeseen. It has been warned about for years, reported on repeatedly. Yet still, children are waiting months or even years for assessments. Schools are still expected to cope with too little funding and too few resources. Still, parents are forced into legal battles to secure the basic support their child is entitled to by law.
Every one of those shoes told a story that should send a powerful message to those in power. A story of a child denied an Education, Health and Care Plan because of a stretched budget. A story of a pupil struggling without the proper support, then ending up out of school. A story of parents taking time off work, fighting bureaucracy to get their child what the system is supposed to provide. These are not statistics. They are children. And they deserve better.
Like many MPs, children who have been let down by the SEND system form a big part of my caseload, and I do everything I can to advocate for them. But the truth is that there are major systemic issues that need addressing in order for the situation to change.
What makes this situation so maddening is that the failures are systemic, predictable, and could be resolved with genuine political will. Successive governments have known for years that SEND provision is collapsing under the weight of rising demand and inadequate funding. Councils like Norfolk and Suffolk have pleaded for fairer settlements and better guidance, while schools juggle impossible workloads and overstretched budgets. The result is a system built on goodwill and desperation, where families are expected to do the heavy lifting while ministers debate policy papers and budgets.
The anger among parents is not misplaced. They are not asking for special treatment. All they are asking is that the system meet its legal responsibilities. The Children and Families Act 2014 was supposed to guarantee that children with additional needs would receive coordinated, timely, and appropriate support. More than a decade later, for many, those guarantees exist only on paper. Families are left chasing paperwork, fighting for appeals, and explaining their child’s condition again and again to a carousel of professionals who often lack the resources or authority to act.
It is time for the Government at all levels to stop making excuses and start delivering change. This means urgent investment in early intervention, proper funding for Education, Health and Care Plans, and genuine accountability when councils fail to meet their legal duties. It means ensuring schools have the specialist staff and resources to meet children’s needs and that teachers receive the support and training needed to enable far more children to thrive in mainstream schools. And for those children for whom a mainstream school is not the right setting, we need adequate spaces in alternative provision schools. At its core, we need a system that treats parents as partners, not adversaries, and children as real people whose right to proper support is non-negotiable.
Norfolk and Suffolk’s children deserve better than being represented by empty shoes on cold concrete. They deserve classrooms that welcome them, schools that have the resources to help them, and councils that see them as individuals rather than numbers on a spreadsheet. I will keep pressing both the Government and county councils to deliver the reforms and funding that are long overdue.
The Government has finally acknowledged the NHS dentistry crisis. Now it must take action.
8th of August 2025
When I stood for election a little over a year ago, the one issue that came up time and time again was the near-complete collapse in access to NHS dental care locally. It was raised by parents who couldn’t get appointments for their children, and by people sometimes travelling hours just to be seen. I’ve even spoken to people in so much pain that they resorted to pulling out their teeth. This cannot be right.
I’ve long believed that dentistry is the forgotten sibling of the NHS. A vital service that has been chronically underfunded for decades.
From day one in Parliament, I made it a priority to press the Government on this issue. I’ve repeatedly raised it on the floor of the House, submitted questions, and met with the British Dental Association (BDA) and the campaign group Toothless in England multiple times to hear directly from those on the front lines. Their message has been consistent: the current system is broken.
Dentists are willing and able to help, but many are leaving NHS work because the contract model is unworkable, and the funding is not there. That is why I have sought to work with the BDA to secure a new workable contract - one that serves dentists, patients, and the NHS.
The Government’s response until now has been lacklustre to say the least. They have promised reforms that never materialised and continued to allocate funding that, infuriatingly, went unspent. In fact, despite the Government’s initial action and announcements and schemes that were supposed to fix things, the proportion of dentists working in the NHS in Norfolk and Waveney continues to drop.
I took the opportunity in Parliament last month to ask the Minister of State for Care whether the recently announced additional funding for the Department of Health and Social Care would lead to substantial investment in NHS dentistry. I asked a simple, direct question. Will the Government ensure that the extra funding that has been put into the Department is actually reflected in extra funding for NHS dentistry?
This time, the Minister gave a clear and welcome commitment. He said, and I quote, “Every penny that is allocated to NHS dentistry must be spent on NHS dentistry.” He also acknowledged how outrageous it is that we have seen underspending in dentistry budgets at a time of rising demand. Crucially, he recognised that areas like East Anglia, which have been underserved for years, must be prioritised.
As someone who has worked consistently on this issue, both inside and outside Parliament, I am pleased that the Government is finally starting to recognise the scale of the problem. But let’s be clear. Words are not enough. Promises mean little unless they are followed by action. What we need is for this Government to live up to its commitment to spend every penny allocated to NHS dentistry, and to follow through as soon as possible with the contract reforms so we can stop – and then reverse – the exodus of dentists from the NHS.
For people in Waveney Valley and across East Anglia, this needs to result in more NHS dentists on the ground. It needs to mean appointments that are available when needed. Patients must not be forced into private treatment or left waiting for months or longer for basic care.
There is also a broader question here about how we view dentistry as part of our health system. For too long, dental care has been treated as a separate or second-tier service. That must change. Oral health is not an optional extra, it’s a vital part of our overall health. Until the Government sees this, we are going to get nowhere in improving our overall wellbeing.
Untreated dental problems can lead to severe pain, serious infections, and, in some cases, leave people unable to eat. Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admission for children – a total scandal. The idea that this essential part of healthcare is now out of reach for so many people is not just unfair. It is a public health failure.
The Government may have come to its senses on NHS dentistry, but this must now be a turning point, not just a passing gesture. In the months ahead, I will continue to work with the BDA and Toothless in England to push for tangible action, not just words.
No one should be in pain because they cannot afford to see a dentist. No child should be denied basic healthcare because of where they live. It’s time the Government made good on its promise and delivered NHS dentistry that works for the people who need it most.
I will not let this issue drop. I will continue to fight for a system that works, for patients, for dentists, and communities like ours.
My first year as an MP
4th of July 2025
It’s hard to believe that it’s only a year ago that voters went to the polls, threw out the Conservatives and gave Labour its huge majority - and I became the first MP for the new Waveney Valley constituency, and one of four Green MPs, quadrupling our representation in Parliament.
The past 12 months have been a whirlwind and this seems a good moment to reflect on what’s happened since my election.
To start, the fortunes of both Labour and the Conservatives have tumbled. Labour’s promise of change has turned into more of the same brutal cuts to public services, causing them to haemorrhage support, while the Conservatives have slumped even further in opinion polls, to the point where their actual survival as a party is being questioned.
I’m glad to say that, in contrast, the Greens have built up our support across the country, while in Parliament I and my fellow Green MPs continue to hold the Government to account on issues ranging from support for public services to protection of the environment.
I’ve challenged ministers on the disastrous state of NHS dentistry in East Anglia; on cuts in education spending and the pressures on SEND provision; on the failure to address the roots of poverty; on the betrayal of farmers not only with the badly conceived changes to inheritance tax rules but also the abrupt pause to funding for sustainable farming; on the need to listen to residents’ concerns about the proposed new pylons route and properly consider alternatives for much-needed improvements to the electricity grid; and on the Government’s refusal to take a stand on the Israeli government’s attacks on civilians in Gaza – to name but a few of the issues that I know are important to my constituents.
Only last week, during Prime Minister’s Questions, I called on Keir Starmer to scrap the two-child benefit cap and the totally unacceptable cuts to universal credit for ill and disabled people which will push more and more people into poverty.
I’ve spoken about the lack of flood preparedness in Norfolk and Suffolk and given my backing to local natural flood management projects. I’ve highlighted the urgent need to hold water companies to account for the damage they have done to our rivers and beaches. I initiated and led a debate on the welfare of farmed animals and the horrifying increase in industrial factory farming. I believe in working with MPs from other parties in areas where we can agree and I’m glad that in both these areas, there has been cross-party support. Too often, the tribalism of our politics gets in the way of resolving some of the many challenges we face.
That is why I have supported the Government’s commitment to tackling the climate and nature crises – the issue which above all others brought me into politics. I only wish its actions lived up to its ambition, rather than pandering to the interests of the fossil fuel industry by pledging huge public investment in carbon capture and storage and keeping open the option of more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
When I was elected last July, I promised to be an active and visible MP in Waveney Valley. And this has been a key focus of my work – holding more than 40 constituency surgeries over the past 12 months and visiting many of the schools, businesses and local organisations across the constituency. I’ve received and replied to more than 4,100 emails from constituents voicing their concerns, whether it’s on national policy or their own difficulty in accessing vital public services.
I know people in Waveney Valley are proud of the area they live in and want to protect it. But I also know you feel let down by the loss of local services and the degradation of the local environment. The lack of NHS dentistry is a prime example of the erosion of public services so it’s disappointing that each time I have raised this with ministers, and the Prime Minister himself, I am fobbed off with promises of addressing the issue – but no firm date for reforming the NHS dental contract which is the root cause of the problem. I will keep up the pressure on this crucial issue.
I knew when I stood for Parliament that Waveney Valley was a remarkable place with a real sense of community. The people I’ve met over the last 12 months and the organisations I’ve visited have only made me even more proud of our great communities. It is a huge honour to be your MP.
I promised when I was elected that I would be Waveney Valley’s voice at Westminster, not Westminster’s voice in Waveney Valley. I hope I am fulfilling that promise as I continue to fight for the interests of all my constituents and ensure your voice is heard in the corridors of power.
Adrian Ramsay MP Urges Government to Restore Trust After Abrupt SFI Withdrawal
Adrian Ramsay MP, Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales and Member of Parliament for Waveney Valley, has raised serious concerns about the Government’s handling of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), following its abrupt and unexplained withdrawal for new entrants earlier this year.
Speaking after meeting with farmers across Waveney Valley and writing to the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Adrian Ramsay MP said:
“Farmers in my constituency have told me they feel blindsided by the Government’s decision to close new applications to the SFI without any warning or consultation. Many had invested time, money, and energy into preparing for the scheme only to face sudden rejection and financial uncertainty. This has severely undermined trust in the Government.”
He continued:
“The SFI scheme is not perfect, but it offers a meaningful replacement for the EU’s CAP payments and to a future in which farmers could invest in the natural capital of their land. In one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, this kind of support is essential for reversing catastrophic biodiversity loss. Without it, farmers say they may be forced to abandon environmental practices just to stay afloat.”
Adrian Ramsay has written to Daniel Zeichner MP, the responsible minister, seeking urgent answers on behalf of those affected. In his letter, he asked:
Will you confirm when the new eligibility criteria will be published?
What steps are you taking to prioritise farmers affected by the abrupt closure?
What reassurance can you give to those already in the SFI that they will be able to reapply in good time for future phases?
Can you guarantee that the full £2.4 billion annual farming budget will be protected through and beyond the Spending Review, so that Environmental Land Management schemes deliver on their promises for nature, food security, and rural livelihoods?
In closing Adrian Ramsay MP said, “The long-term success of environmental land management schemes should not be dictated by short-term Treasury pressures,” Ramsay added. “This is about protecting our countryside, strengthening rural livelihoods, and meeting our climate and biodiversity goals. Farmers deserve clarity — and a government that keeps its promises.”
ENDS
Adrian Ramsay MP Marks VE Day at Westminster Abbey and Across Waveney Valley
12th of May 2025
Adrian Ramsay MP, Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales and Member of Parliament for Waveney Valley, marked VE Day by attending the national commemoration ceremony at Westminster Abbey, followed by local events across his constituency.
Adrian Ramsay MP said:
“It was an enormous honour to represent the Green Party at Westminster Abbey to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. VE Day is a time to reflect on the significant sacrifices made in the pursuit of peace. As we commemorate that hard-won peace, I am reminded that we, as Members of Parliament, have a duty to promote and protect peace in the world today.”
Later that evening, Adrian joined residents at events in Diss and Harleston to commemorate VE Day locally:
"It was a privilege to attend VE Day events in Diss and Harleston, following the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. It brought home the fact that, at its heart, VE Day is about community and remembrance. Eighty years ago, people across the country came together to celebrate the end of the war with their neighbours, while also mourning the fallen who made the ultimate sacrifice. I was proud to stand alongside our communities in Diss and Harleston as they gathered once again in that same spirit. As we honour the past, it is also a moment to reflect on the enduring values of peace, unity, and resilience."
ENDS
Adrian Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley, Urges the Government to Increase Funding for Rural Schools.
Adrian Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley, Urges the Government to Increase Funding for Rural Schools.
Adrian Ramsay MP has called on the Secretary of State for Education to urgently address the funding crisis affecting rural schools in Norfolk and Suffolk.
In a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Education, Adrian Ramsay MP highlighted the mounting challenges schools in the Waveney Valley face due to insufficient funding.
Waring that "Schools are struggling to maintain the same level of educational provision with reduced resources."
He continued, "While national pay rises for staff are to be welcomed, the fact that they have been only partly funded by the government is putting further pressure on school budgets, resulting in a reduced staffing model, larger class sizes, and diminished support for students. Schools are facing difficult decisions about staffing levels, redundancies, and service reductions, along with the concomitant impact on staff wellbeing and morale."
The letter also pointed to the deteriorating condition of school buildings, saying, "I am aware of one school which has a leaking science block roof. This has been a health and safety risk while negatively impacting lesson delivery and student morale."
ENDS