In a bid to quell rising concerns among families, the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has assured parents that the government will not withdraw “effective support” for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as it embarks on significant reforms to the education system in England. Speaking to the BBC, Phillipson emphasised that the government plans to increase funding rather than cut it, aiming to create a more responsive system that meets the needs of every child.
A New Era for SEND Support
The proposed changes to SEND provision, detailed in an upcoming White Paper set to be released on Monday, have been met with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Parents have expressed fears that their children’s current support might be diminished as the government seeks to streamline a system that many believe is currently in crisis. Phillipson reiterated that the reforms are designed to ensure children receive the support they need, more swiftly and efficiently.
The White Paper will introduce a new approach to assessing children as they transition into secondary school, a shift that has raised eyebrows among advocates and families. Leaked details suggest that children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs)—legal documents that specify a child’s entitlement to additional support—will undergo reassessments starting in 2029. Alongside this, a new framework of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will be implemented, granting legal recognition to support measures for all children with SEND, including those not currently covered by an EHCP.
Reassurance from the Education Secretary
Phillipson assured parents during her appearance on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the reforms would ultimately lead to more children receiving timely support. “We are not going to be taking away effective support from children,” she stated emphatically. “What I’ll be setting out is a decade-long, very careful transition from the system that we have—which everyone recognises isn’t working.”
She acknowledged the need for a thorough review of children’s needs, emphasising that regular assessments should already be taking place. “Every year an EHCP is meant to be reviewed, but that doesn’t always happen,” Phillipson admitted, highlighting systemic flaws that have contributed to the current situation.
Voices of Concern
However, not all voices echo the government’s confidence. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott expressed serious reservations about the proposed changes, highlighting the struggles families face in obtaining the support their children need. “Too many parents have had to fight for the support, and the idea that they’re going to be reassessed will be genuinely frightening,” she warned.
For parents like Hannah Luxford, whose teenage son has faced challenges due to anxiety, the prospect of reassessment is daunting. After an arduous 18-month process to secure an EHCP, Luxford now fears for her son’s legal rights under the new reforms. “I want to hear that those of us already with EHCPs are protected,” she said. “If that’s taken away, it will take us back to where we were five years ago.”
The Financial Burden of Reform
As the government navigates these reforms, it faces mounting financial pressure. Starting in 2028, the government will assume responsibility for SEND costs currently borne by local councils, a change that is projected to impose an additional £6 billion burden on the system. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has highlighted the urgent need for a strategy to address this financial strain, whether through increased funding, reforms to control rising costs, or cuts to existing provisions.
Luke Sibieta from the IFS noted the troubling landscape: “Unfortunately, we still have a system that is characterised by conflict, by fight, but also by really patchy levels of quality.” As such, the proposed reforms aim not only to alleviate financial pressures but also to improve the quality of support provided to children with SEND.
Aiming for Equality in Education
In tandem with the SEND reforms, the government has set an ambitious goal to halve the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers by the time current students complete secondary school. Plans include a reallocation of funding to ensure that schools are better equipped to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, the latest data from the Department for Education reveals that the disadvantage gap index for Year 11 students has widened in recent years, underscoring the challenges ahead.
Why it Matters
As the government prepares to unveil its plans for SEND reforms, the stakes are high for families across the country. The promise of increased funding and improved systems is encouraging, yet the fears of parents highlight a deep-seated anxiety about the future of their children’s education. The balance between financial sustainability and effective support must be carefully managed, as thousands of families rely on the assurance that their children’s needs will not only be recognised but meaningfully addressed. The outcome of these reforms will shape the educational landscape for years to come, making it crucial for the government to listen to the voices of those most affected.
