Parents voices must be at the heart of upcoming reforms to the SEND system. Thank you to everyone who’s completed my survey – I’ve had over 100 responses! www.surveymonkey.com/r/JenCraftMPSendSurvey If you need an easy read version, email [email protected] (Thurrock residents only)

I want to hear from you about fixing our broken SEND system. If you're the parent or carer of a child in Thurrock with special educational needs or a disability, please fill in my survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MG8ST6Q I'm determined that parents' voices are at the heart of the upcoming changes.

Latest report on govt use of BSL is testament to the progress made since 2022, with new departmental plans to continue growing awareness. Clearly much more to do to embed needs of deaf signers at the heart of govt, which I will keep pushing for as chair of the BSL APPG. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Great to speak at the East of England APPG meeting on Health Innovation yesterday. A big thank you to @healthinnoveast.bsky.social for the work you're doing to improve prevention efforts across the East.

SEND parents are furious that we have to spend time and energy we do not have, fighting against a system designed by successive Conservative governments to deny our children the support they need. Change is coming under Labour, but after a decade of failure, parents are understandably anxious. /1

97 years ago this week, women finally won the right to vote on equal terms with men. Now, we have a record 264 female MPs in parliament. We owe this success to the women who came before us. I think our grandmothers would be proud to see how far we’ve come since they first went to the ballot box.

I have chosen to sign a reasoned amendment which aims to halt the progress of the government’s welfare bill. While I recognise the need for reform, I have serious concerns around the impacts of the proposed legislation - particularly for disabled people.

If an unmarried women looses her partner during pregnancy, she must undergo a traumatic legal process to register their name on the child's birth certificate. I've proposed a bill that seeks to provide a simple process for bereaved mothers, dragging outdated legislation into the 21st century.

This week, I asked Education Minister @cmckinnellmp.bsky.social about the progress in delivering the British Sign Language GCSE. As Chair of the BSL APPG, I've been working hard with fellow MPs and @bda.org.uk to get this lifechanging qualification introduced at the earliest opportunity.

🗯️ 'Changing culture, one voice at a time' Reflecting on MP Jen Craft's recent speech sharing her lived experience, @andybell-centremh.bsky.social explores the power of MPs speaking out about mental health to fight stigma and foster culture change: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/changing-cul...

Brilliant to see the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee taking effect in Thurrock, with eight new neighbourhood officers now on the beat thanks to this funding. Constituents want visible, local policing. This is an excellent first step, and an important investment in our police force.

The aims of the government’s Mental Health Bill can only be achieved when learning disabled and autistic people have access to proper community support. We need a system of integrated care that encompasses health, housing and occupational needs👇

For people with learning disabilities or autism, a locked mental health ward can be a living hell. Under the 1983 Mental Health Act, these conditions alone can be used to justify detention. I strongly welcome the government’s new Mental Health Bill, which will help end this shameful practise.

In a debate on the Mental Health Bill, I spoke about my personal experience of serious mental illness. While I have received good care, this is sadly the exception, and not the rule. Too often, treatment is patronising, reductive, and inconsistent. /1

A real honour to attend so many community events in Thurrock marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. An opportunity to celebrate that famous victory, while reflecting on those who sacrificed so much to defend our country and our freedoms.

Gambling can cause serious harm. Financial, physical, and mental harm. In England, there are 117 to 496 gambling-related suicides every year. We're calling on Government to act now. Read more: committees.parliament.uk/committee/81...

Ahead of #VEDay80, I reflected in Parliament on the remarkable social change brought about by the end of the war. As 300,000 disabled servicemen and women returned home, attitudes toward disability changed – leading to groundbreaking legislation considering the needs of disabled people.

On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we pay tribute to those who defended our nation and our freedom. It's an opportunity for us to reflect on the extraordinary bravery of the wartime generation, in Thurrock and across the country, and celebrate the British values they fought to defend.

In recent years there’s been a systematic failure to identify and address child sexual abuse in the family – with victims' voices ignored. I asked @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social how Labour’s strategy on violence against women and girls will tackle this complex form of abuse.

Earlier this month, as Chair of the BSL APPG, I wrote to ministers asking for the next consultation on the new BSL GCSE to be brought forward📝 Pleased to see this launched today - bringing us one step closer to making this life-changing qualification a reality for young people. @bda.org.uk

School support staff, teaching assistants, and learning support assistants play a key role in enabling the inclusion of children with SEND in our schools. I asked @cmckinnellmp.bsky.social what steps the department is taking to upskill the school support workforce to meet the needs of every child.

I recently spoke to @sophiealichurch.bsky.social from @thehousemag.bsky.social about my journey into politics. We discussed my experiences as a SEND parent and how these shape my priorities in Parliament - including raising the profile of sign language 👇 www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Privilege to lay a brick in @msenhshospitals.bsky.social’s new community diagnostic centre in Thurrock. Great example of shifting NHS care into the community, cutting waiting lists with better access to vital tests and scans - closer to home for patients.

Shocking report from @signhealth.bsky.social and the RNID. Demonstrates the ongoing challenges that deaf signers face in accessing healthcare, with communication needs not being met. Critical we address this to prevent serious consequences on health outcomes. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

In recent years, there’s been an alarming increase in the prevalence of gambling addiction. With people now bombarded with betting ads and able to gamble from their phones, I asked experts in @commonshealth.bsky.social about how we can safeguard children 📺👇

After the previous Government said the British Sign Language GCSE would be ready by September 2025, it's now been pushed back. This delay has serious human impacts. As Chair of the BSL APPG, I’ve asked the Department for a new date for the first teaching of this potentially life changing course 📝

Responsibility for children's SEND provision falls under several departments. Historically, policies have been disjointed, with parents forced to piece together support. I asked the Minister what steps he is talking to make sure this government’s SEND strategy is joined-up and holistic.

Delighted to be elected Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Learning Disability at the inaugural meeting this week. We'll be meeting regularly to explore and address the key issues that people with a learning disability face, putting their voices at the heart of these discussions.

From today, thousands of workers in Thurrock will receive a proper pay rise. After a decade of decline and low wages, too many hardworking people don’t get the pay or recognition they deserve. This Government is changing that: putting more money in the pockets of the lowest paid workers.

Great to work with Google to bring their Digital Garage to Thurrock today, giving local students and businesses free training in digital skills. With huge potential for economic growth in Thurrock, sessions like these are vital for ensuring local people can meet the digital needs of new employers.

Down Syndrome Regression Disorder is a horrific condition, yet is largely overlooked. If a child without Down syndrome became catatonic and unresponsive overnight, it would be treated as a medical emergency. We need to drive more awareness, with an NHS pathway to diagnose and treat this condition.

As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, I became part of a wonderful community - full of fantastic people and organisations. If you receive a diagnosis of Down syndrome, come and talk to any of us. We can tell you that it is not just going to be ok, but that it is going to be brilliant.

Today is World Down Syndrome Day 💛💙 Seven years ago, a diagnosis of Down syndrome changed my life for the better. My daughter is kind, she is joyous, and she has made me a better person. It was a privilege to share our story in Parliament.

After a very passionate speech in Westminster Hall yesterday, in which she talked about her daughter who has Down's syndrome, @thurrockjen.bsky.social joined us today in Portcullis House, where she met Safiya & heard about her job. #ImproveOurSupportSystems #WorldDownSyndromeDay #WorkFit #WorkFit

Thank you MP @thurrockjen.bsky.social for highlighting the work of SignHealth and the barriers for deaf people accessing GP appointments in today's British Sign Language Week debate in Westminster. #StillSickOfIt #WhereIsOurAccess #SignLanguageWeek #SLW2025

Today, I led a debate celebrating Sign Language Week. As a user of sign language at home with my daughter, I was proud to be the first MP to use sign language in this Parliament.

I am one of only 6-8% of people with a serious mental illness in employment - despite 80% wanting to work. I asked @lizkendallmp.bsky.social to work with colleagues in the Department of Health to provide joined-up support - so more of us can access the benefits of a good, secure job.

The crisis in the NHS runs deep. Unless this Government delivers fundamental change, the future of the NHS is under threat. The abolition of NHSE represents the bold action we need, and I asked the Health Secretary how this transformation will ensure the right leaders are in place to drive reform.

The rates of learning disabled and autistic people detained in mental health units is a scandal. It's vital that people receive community mental health support before they reach crisis point. In @commonshealth.bsky.social I asked health leaders how we can improve access to these services.

Recent NHS planning guidance dropped the target for annual health checks for people with learning disabilities. On average, this community dies younger due to unmet health needs. Today, I asked the Government to ensure historically overlooked groups are not left behind in the NHS reform agenda.

The Government’s decision to increase defence spending is not only an ironclad commitment to national security, but also an investment in British industry. Today I asked the Chancellor how this additional funding can be used to unlock jobs and opportunities for people living in Thurrock.

Today, the Government announced a new deal for GPs It includes the biggest funding boost in years, alongside landmark reforms: 👨‍💻Introducing online booking 👩‍⚕️Incentivising the family doctor relationship ✂️Cutting red tape to free up GP time It's the first step in rebuilding GP services in Thurrock

Labour’s free breakfast clubs will make a massive difference to the lives of working families. I asked @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social to ensure that SEN parents and children aren’t overlooked in the rollout of this vital support, with a nod to a great film…📽️

Delighted that two of our local schools in Thurrock will among the first to benefit from one of Labour’s free breakfast clubs. These will save working families up to £450 and set children up to start the day ready to learn 🎓

Good to speak to BBC Essex about the challenges that parents experience when their baby is admitted to neonatal care, and where I think more support needs to be available. Along with local charity Isla’s Journey, I’ll be meeting with ministers to discuss these suggestions 📻👇

Pleased to join @mencap.org.uk for their reception in Parliament recently and commit to becoming one of their learning disability champions. It was great to meet some of their service users to discuss how we can continue to work to break down barriers facing people with a learning disability.

The government's introduction of paid leave for parents with a child in neonatal care is a very positive step. By removing the impossible choice between going to work to pay the bills or spending time at the hospital, it gives parents security in spending invaluable time beside their baby 👇

In Parliament yesterday, I spoke about the experience of my constituent Ashley. Her account of her daughter’s seventh month stay in neonatal care shows the emotional and financial burden this places on parents. Alongside her charity Isla’s Journey, I’m working to ensure proper support is in place.

Thank you @msenhshospitals.bsky.social for showing me round the build of the new Community Diagnostic Centre in Grays last week. Great to see the progress of this new facility, which will deliver an extra 75,000 tests each year - cutting waiting lists and providing NHS care closer to home!

I was at Tilbury Town station this morning for the launch of contactless ticketing across the entire c2c route 🚅 This is great news for my constituents, with a simpler, more modern ticketing system that reflects the Government's ambition to make our railways more accessible and passenger focused.