Following the AGM of the Dyslexia and SpLD APPG, Sharon has been elected as the new Chair of this influential cross-party group of MPs and Peers after the out-going Chair, Kelvin Hopkins MP, decided to step down.

Following her election, Sharon, said:

“Following my own personal experiences as a mother of a child with severe dyslexia and campaigning through-out my time as a Member of Parliament on special educational needs and disability issues, both from the backbenches and on the frontbench, I am honoured that my fellow Parliamentarians have put their trust in me to continue the excellent work of the out-going Chair, Kelvin Hopkins and chair this cross-party group.

“Supporting children, young people and adults with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties has always been a cause close to my heart. Whilst there have been some important steps forward in provision in recent years, especially for children and young people with the roll-out of reforms in the Children and Families Act 2014, there is still a need to make sure that these reforms are ensuring that children and young people are getting the best deal possible to ensure they can grow up to be successful adults, and I hope to push forward on this agenda as Chair of this important APPG.”