In a bid to reassure parents and stakeholders, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has affirmed that the government will maintain “effective support” for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as part of its forthcoming school reforms in England. Amid concerns about the potential reduction of services, Phillipson emphasised that funding for SEND initiatives will increase, addressing the pressing challenges faced by the current system.
Proposed Reforms Under Scrutiny
The government’s anticipated White Paper, set to be released on Monday, aims to overhaul the SEND framework, which has been under significant scrutiny due to rising costs and perceived inefficiencies. The reforms are expected to introduce a more structured assessment process for children transitioning from primary to secondary education.
Phillipson highlighted that the proposed changes would not only enhance the quality of support but would also ensure that it is delivered more swiftly and efficiently. “The assurance I can give to parents is that under the new system, more children will receive support,” she stated. This revision will incorporate a review of children’s needs, although it raises concerns among parents regarding the reassessment of existing support structures.
Legal Framework for Individual Support Plans
The upcoming reforms will introduce Individual Support Plans (ISPs), designed to ensure that all children with identified SEND receive tailored support. These plans will carry legal weight, providing a clearer pathway for families to access necessary resources without the protracted battles often associated with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Phillipson has assured that EHCPs will remain a critical component of the new structure, stating, “EHCPs will have an important role to play in the new system.” However, she acknowledged the current inadequacies in the system, admitting that annual reviews of EHCPs, which are meant to occur, do not always take place as intended.
Concerns from Critics and Stakeholders
Despite the government’s assurances, critics, including Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, have voiced significant concerns regarding the proposed changes. Trott emphasised that many parents currently face daunting challenges in securing appropriate support for their children. She described the notion of reassessment as “genuinely frightening” for families who have fought hard for their children’s rights.
Personal stories from parents underscore the anxiety surrounding these reforms. Hannah Luxford, whose son struggled with anxiety, shared her experience of navigating an “adversarial, complex system” to secure an EHCP, which took 18 months. Now that her son is enrolled in a funded virtual school, Luxford’s primary concern revolves around ensuring that existing legal protections remain intact. “If that’s taken away, it will take us back to where we were five years ago,” she lamented.
Financial Pressures and the Future of SEND Support
The government’s decision to transfer SEND funding responsibilities from local councils by 2028 is anticipated to generate a significant financial burden, potentially amounting to £6 billion. This move has led to growing calls for reforms to either enhance funding for education or to implement measures that would slow the increase in SEND spending.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has analysed the current landscape, revealing a troubling trend: while the number of EHCPs is on the rise, the quality of support remains inconsistent. Luke Sibieta from the IFS noted that “we still have a system that is characterised by conflict, by fight, but also by really patchy levels of quality.”
Moreover, the government aims to address the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, pledging to halve this disparity by the time children born during the current Parliament complete secondary education. Recent figures indicate that this gap has widened post-pandemic, highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies to support vulnerable students.
Why it Matters
The government’s proposed reforms to the SEND system hold significant implications for countless families across England. While the promise of increased funding and improved support frameworks is encouraging, the ongoing concerns surrounding reassessment and the potential loss of existing provisions cannot be overlooked. As the government prepares to unveil its plans, the voices of parents and advocates for SEND children will be crucial in shaping a system that meets the diverse needs of all students. The effectiveness of these reforms will ultimately hinge on their ability to deliver tangible improvements in access to support, ensuring that every child receives the education they deserve.
