In a bid to reassure families, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has confirmed that the government will not withdraw essential support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as part of upcoming school reforms in England. Phillipson emphasised that funding for SEND provisions will increase, countering fears that the proposed changes could limit existing support.
Upcoming White Paper on SEND Reforms
The comprehensive details of the government’s SEND reform strategy will be unveiled in a White Paper scheduled for release on Monday. This document is highly anticipated by parents concerned about the potential implications for their children’s educational support. The reforms come against the backdrop of a SEND system under considerable strain, as rising costs have prompted calls for urgent change.
Recent leaks indicate that children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs)—documents that guarantee additional support—may face reassessment upon transitioning to secondary school beginning in 2029. These changes are expected to coincide with the introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs), which will extend legal rights to all children with SEND, ensuring that every child receives tailored support from their school.
Commitment to Enhanced Support Mechanisms
Speaking on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Phillipson reassured parents that “EHCPs will have an important role to play in the new system.” She stressed that the objective is to provide support more efficiently, allowing children to receive assistance promptly and without the previous bureaucratic hurdles. “The assurance I can give to parents is that under the new system, more children will receive support,” she stated, adding that the reforms would ease the struggle parents face in obtaining necessary help.
Phillipson acknowledged the need for an ongoing review of children’s needs, a process that should be occurring annually but has not always been effectively implemented. “That should be happening at the moment,” she noted, highlighting existing shortcomings in the system.
Opposition Voices Concerns
The proposed reforms have sparked apprehension among opposition MPs. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott expressed significant concerns, particularly regarding the reassessment of support and the burdens it may place on families. She emphasised the adversarial nature of the current system, which can leave parents feeling overwhelmed and unsupported.
Parents like Hannah Luxford, whose son has faced challenges with anxiety, have shared their experiences navigating the existing system. Luxford described the long journey to secure an EHCP for her son, which took 18 months. While she now sees her son thriving in a funded virtual school, she remains anxious about the potential changes to his legal rights under the new framework. “If that’s taken away, it will take us back to where we were five years ago,” she warned.
Financial Pressures and Potential Backlash
The government’s decision to shift SEND costs from local councils to central funding by 2028 is expected to create a £6 billion financial burden. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has identified three possible strategies to address this escalating pressure: increasing education funding, implementing reforms to curb SEND expenditure, or resorting to cuts. Luke Sibieta from the IFS highlighted the precarious situation, noting that the current system is fraught with conflict and inconsistencies, leaving many children without the quality support they need.
In addition to SEND reforms, the government aims to halve the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers by the time children born during this Parliament complete secondary school. Recent data reveals that the gap has widened post-pandemic, reaching its highest level in a decade.
Why it Matters
The government’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing support for children with SEND is crucial, particularly as families grapple with the complexities of the current system. The proposed reforms have the potential to reshape how educational support is delivered, but they also risk alienating parents who fear losing the protections currently afforded to their children. As the White Paper nears publication, it will be critical for policymakers to ensure that the voices of affected families are heard and that the reforms genuinely improve educational outcomes for all children.
