Ministers fail to rule out cutting Send school plans after campaigners' concerns

Yahoo

5 days ago

Ministers have failed to rule out slashing education plans for children and young people with special educational needs, after campaigners warned against the move.
Education minister Stephen Morgan insisted parents should have 'absolutely' no fear that support for children with special needs or disabilities (Send) will be scaled back.
But he could not guarantee that the current system of education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which are issued to give children specialist classroom support, would remain in place.
In a letter shared with the Guardian newspaper, campaigners have said that without the documents in mainstream schools, 'many thousands of children risk being denied vital provision, or losing access to education altogether'.
On Monday, Mr Morgan told broadcaster LBC the current system of support is 'failing children, it's failing parents'.
Asked if concerned campaigners could have no fear that Send support will be scaled back, Mr Morgan replied: 'Absolutely. What we want to do is make sure we've got a better system in place as a result of the reform that we're doing that improves outcomes for children with additional needs.'
But pressed whether the reforms could include scrapping ECHPs, Mr Morgan replied: 'We're looking at all things in the round.
'I'm not going to get into the mechanics today, but this is about strengthening support for system.'
On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson would similarly not be drawn on whether the plans will be retained.
'What I can say very clearly is that we will strengthen and put in place better support for children,' she told the BBC.
The Government plans to publish a white paper in the autumn detailing how it will reform support for Send, according to Mr Morgan.
Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Ms Phillipson said children with special needs will 'always' have a 'legal right' to additional support.
She said: 'The guiding principle of any reform to the Send system that we will set out will be about better support for children, strengthened support for children and improved support for children, both inside and outside of special schools.
'Improved inclusivity in mainstream schools, more specialist provision in mainstream schools, and absolutely drawing on the expertise of the specialist sector in creating the places where we need them, there will always be a legal right… to the additional support… that children with Send need.'
Requests for Send support have risen year-on-year.
In total, there were 638,745 EHCPs in place in January 2025, up 10.8% on the same point last year.
The number of new plans which started during 2024 also grew by 15.8% on the previous year, to 97,747.
Requests for children to be assessed for EHCPs rose by 11.8% to 154,489 in 2024.
In a letter to the Guardian, campaigners including the heads of charities, professors, Send parents including actor Sally Phillips, and campaigners including broadcaster Chris Packham warned against scrapping ECHPs as part of any overhaul of support.
'Whatever the Send system's problems, the answer is not to remove the rights of children and young people. Families cannot afford to lose these precious legal protections,' they said.
MPs have warned ministers have not been clear about their plans, and could face a rebellion akin to last week's welfare Bill revolt, according to the Guardian.
In a signal the Government is willing to square up to its rebellious backbenchers, Mr Morgan told ITV's Good Morning Britain that Labour MPs had 'stood on a platform a manifesto commitment to reform the Send system'.
He also would not be drawn into suggestions by Good Morning Britain that the reforms were a cost-cutting measure being driven by the Treasury.
'Well, look at the figures. We've actually put more money into the Send system, the £1 billion for high needs announced last year,' he replied to the question.
Amid mounting pressure from MPs to scrap the two-child benefit cap, the minister said 'nothing has changed' in the Government's plans, which will see a child poverty strategy report back in the autumn.
Mr Morgan added: 'We're looking at all levers to bring down child poverty, but that's got to be fiscally done well, and obviously we need to grow our economy.'
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson said: 'The Send system urgently needs fixing, but ministers mustn't use that as an excuse to balance the books on the backs of disabled children.
'The Government is ignoring the concerns of special needs families and campaigners, and is in serious danger of sleepwalking into another crisis – just like they did with the welfare Bill.
'Bridget Phillipson must listen to those concerns and come up with a proper solution that protects the most vulnerable in our communities, rather than throwing their support out the window.'
During an adjournment debate on Send provision, Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coughlan said there are 'suicidal children with autism, who are repeatedly denied the support that is their right' in constituency of Dorking and Horley.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There is an unfair postcode lottery in the provision available depending on the financial position of local authorities and local health services, many of which suffered from years of underfunding under the previous government.
'The Government has recognised the need for reform, suggesting that, in future, mainstream schools could support more pupils with special educational needs.
'If this is to be achieved, access to quality staff Send training will be essential, and schools will need significantly improved funding and access to external support in order to ensure children consistently receive the provision they deserve.'