Reform UK councillor quits Essex education role over SEND clashes

Summarised from BBC Essex's report · Updated 27 Oct, 12:44 · Archive

Sam Journet, Reform UK's education cabinet member at Essex County Council, has resigned citing clashes with officers over special needs provision.

Sam Journet has resigned as cabinet member for education, SEND and skills at Essex County Council, where Reform UK took control in May. In his resignation letter to the council leader, he cited his new position as opposition leader at Basildon Council as requiring his focus.

However, BBC Essex reports that Journet also took issue with how officers have handled education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for children with special needs. He wrote that some decisions from civil servants have 'shocked' him, and said there were cases where he had directed officers to reconsider refusals and they did not do so. He stressed he was not asking for particular outcomes but for decisions to be reviewed given the struggles faced by SEND children and families.

Essex County Council has been approached for comment. The council was previously reported to be issuing only 17 per cent of EHCPs within the required 20-week timeframe.

Read the report

• Senior councillor quits after clash over SEND plansReform UK's Sam Journet says he is "shocked" by what he has seen from civil servants.BBC Essex · 27 Oct, 09:05

In this story: Sam Journet · Reform UK · Essex County Council · Basildon Council

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