Reform UK SEND Councillor Sam Jounet resigned from his senior position in Essex County council after conflicting with others about support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

This comes shortly after his pledge to get as close as possible to the 20-week assessment target for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Essex by July 2027.  

Which was believed by many fellow councillors to be unreachable. 

However, it was a needed declaration considering Essex has a 17% rate of meeting the 20-week SEND assessment target. 

Which won’t be helped by this explosive exit.  

His choice to focus on his new role as leader of the opposition for Basildon County council has left those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families feeling defeated. 

A Colchester student under SEND, who has asked to remain anonymous, stated that they felt “upset because this might worsen the current SEND situation in Essex” and “admired” Journet's ambition to get close to the 20-week assessment target for children with SEND however felt that his resignation was “inevitable due to his overly ambitious goals and new role”. 

The parent of the student interviewed felt that this might “cause even more problems for their other child” who is currently waiting for a SEND assessment alongside over 4000 others like them in Essex.  

Furthermore, there's rightful concern across the county about how quickly a new minister will be appointed. A feat that is likely to be challenging due to the ever changing and tumultuous nature of SEND care in Essex. 

Jounet’s new role as leader of the official opposition of the Basildon council is now well under way after he was appointed on October 26th, 2026.

In his first monthly full-council meeting he “pushed to protect the Green Belt and fight for action to protect Basildon from fly-tipping", as announced on his social media accounts.