Sam Gyimah MP speaks to visitors to the launch event in Parliament.

On Monday 24th March Sam Gyimah MP hosted an event in Parliament with Young Epilepsy, to mark the launch of the charity’s Manifesto for Change.

The event follows the successful passage of the Children & Families Act, which received Royal Assent on 13th March. For the first time, the Act introduces a requirement to have appropriate, tailored support in place for every young person with epilepsy in every school, based on an assessment of their individual medical, educational and emotional needs.

The event on Monday brought together teachers, health practitioners, and policymakers to look at how the provisions of the Act can be successfully rolled out to schools across the country. The case for reform was further underlined by the unveiling of new research highlighting the challenges currently faced by UK children with epilepsy, 95% of whom struggle in at least one area of learning or behaviour.

Mr Gyimah is a Vice-President of Young Epilepsy, which is based in Lingfield in his constituency. On Sunday Mr Gyimah also appeared on The Sunday Politics South East as part of a feature on the challenges faced by pupils with epilepsy.

Speaking after Monday’s event, Sam Gyimah said:

"The Children & Families Act is a real game-changer for our school system and the support offered to young people with conditions like epilepsy. The challenge now is to ensure that this change is successfully and consistently applied across the country, to give every young person the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

"Young Epilepsy are doing a fantastic job leading the way, whether by producing new resources to assist schools during this transition or by driving forward the national discussion on caring for pupils with epilepsy.  I am delighted to have been able to host this important event, and to play my part to support such a worthy cause."