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First Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
After welfare humiliation, Starmer has a new headache: Education reforms of Bridget Phillipson
Following the welfare U-turn, Starmer now faces backlash over education reforms that critics fear could strip vital support from children with special needs read more In the wake of a bruising political climbdown over welfare reforms, the Labour government is now navigating yet another politically perilous territory to reform the UK's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) system. Following public backlash and a parliamentary rebellion over disability benefit proposals, Prime Minister Keir Starmer finds himself again under pressure. This time, the scrutiny is over Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's planned overhaul of Send provision, a minefield laden with history, emotion and legal obligations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Politico, Labour insiders say they have learned from the problems caused by past welfare changes, where disabled people and their supporters felt left out of important decisions. After that, Starmer admitted his team 'didn't engage in the way that we should have done'. Because of this, government officials now say they are trying to work more closely with others on changes to the Send system. However, even with promises of more discussion and funding, early signs show that more problems could be coming. More from World Starmer retreats on welfare cuts as internal dissent forces major revisions Send system: Broken and bankrupt Few dispute that the Send system in England is under immense strain. With costs spiralling, councils are forking out millions annually to place children in independent special schools, sometimes spending over £100,000 per pupil, Politico reported. A National Audit Office report labelled the system 'financially unsustainable,' pointing to a staggering rise in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)—from 240,000 a decade ago to over 638,000 in early 2025, the Daily Mail said. The system, which legally mandates support for children with complex needs, was designed to guarantee help but has now become overwhelmed. An influx of diagnoses, particularly in autism spectrum disorders, has led to rising demand, longer delays and a contentious atmosphere between parents and local authorities. The UK's Minister for Early Education Stephen Morgan conceded the current system is 'failing children, it's failing parents,' while admitting on LBC that 'all things [are] in the round' with respect to EHCPs, the Evening Standard reported. Phillipson's delicate balancing act Education Secretary Phillipson, known for taking bold stances such as taxing private school fees, has taken a more measured approach this time. According to Politico, the upcoming white paper, expected this autumn, will not simply be a cost-cutting exercise. To that end, June's spending review included a £760 million allocation to facilitate reforms. Notably, Phillipson has encouraged backbench MPs to conduct constituency-level consultations, a move seen as a signal that lessons from the welfare fiasco are being internalised. It is still unclear whether EHCPs will remain legally binding or whether children will retain their current support levels. Instead, they stressed system improvements and greater inclusion within mainstream schools. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Anxiety among parents and MPs Despite ministerial reassurances, unease is mounting. Parents of children with SEND—many of whom have long histories of fighting for support—fear the reforms could dilute or dismantle existing protections. As per Politico, Jen Craft, Labour MP for Thurrock and a mother of a child with Down syndrome and hearing loss, said that it often feels like families constantly have to fight. She stressed that any reforms should ease, not worsen, the stress and anxiety already built into the system. Reform, not retrenchment? The crux of the issue is whether the reforms will be perceived as an attempt to cut costs under the guise of system efficiency. Phillipson said the current process is 'too adversarial' and 'too bureaucratic' and that reforms will focus on making support more timely and effective, the Daily Mail reported. Yet without transparent guarantees, particularly around EHCPs, many fear children could lose access to the very protections that empower families to hold the system accountable. According to the Evening Standard, Morgan claimed the intention was to 'strengthen support' and not withdraw it. The numbers reflect the gravity of the issue. In 2024 alone, nearly 98,000 new EHCPs were issued, an increase of over 15 per cent from the previous year. Requests for assessments rose by nearly 12 per cent. Scrapping or narrowing the scope of EHCPs would affect tens of thousands of families, many of whom vote and organise politically. Starmer's big political challenge For Starmer, the stakes could hardly be higher. His landslide victory last year ushered in a new era of expectation, but a year on, his administration is floundering in the polls. Following the welfare reform embarrassment, he cannot afford another misstep that alienates a vocal and determined constituency. Indeed, the very demographics affected by Send reform — young families, disability advocates, middle class professionals — are part of the coalition that delivered Labour's victory. Many of the party's new MPs, like Peter Swallow, a former teacher, are deeply familiar with the system's failings and the damage of poor communication, Politico said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The risk is not merely political but deeply human. If reforms are seen as dismantling legal safeguards rather than strengthening support, the emotional blowback could be immense. Proceeding with caution Phillipson's white paper will be a defining moment for Labour's education agenda. Its success or failure may hinge less on what the reforms propose and more on how the government communicates and consults on them. After the bruising welfare episode, Starmer's team is reportedly more sensitive to public and backbench sentiment. But as the Send reform story unfolds, it is clear that many are still waiting for assurances that have not yet come. Until parents, MPs and campaigners receive unambiguous clarity on the fate of EHCPs and other core protections, this issue will remain a slow-burning headache for the Labour government. And with Send spending now accounting for a significant share of the education budget, Starmer and Phillipson must decide if this is a moment for fiscal prudence or for moral leadership. Only time and policy details will tell.
ITV News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Unease among Labour MPs as government eyes reforms to Send provisions
The future of special educational needs funding is set to be the next big spending battle in Westminster. MPs, parents, families, and teachers all agree the current system is ripe for reform. Poor state provisions have seen local councils spend billions of pounds educating pupils independently and transporting pupils to and from school. Meanwhile, parents and families have told ITV News they've had to pull their children out of mainstream state schools for months on end due to inadequate provision. In autumn this year, the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, will outline her plans for reforming Send (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provisions. In recent weeks, government ministers have refused to rule out scrapping Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) - the legal document outlining support for Send children. The speculation has fuelled suspicion and anger among campaigners and parent groups, who over the weekend penned an open letter urging the government not to remove the legal rights of Send children. But there are now growing concerns among Labour MPs about what these changes could look like and how they will sell reforms on the doorstep. One backbencher told ITV News that ministers needed to frame the changes in the context of improving outcomes for children rather than cost-cutting. "This is the same issue as with winter fuel and welfare - there's too much of a focus on making the numbers work on a spreadsheet without thinking about the impact on people," they said. 'If people think the government is scrapping EHCPs as another form of penny-pinching – that's going to be a hard sell,' another Labour MP said. Jen Craft, Labour MP for Thurrock and a Send parent, told ITV News that special educational needs is one of the 'biggest issues' in her inbox. She describes the government's upcoming reforms as an 'opportunity' to reform an "adversarial" and "broken" system. But she warned that any changes needed to be done in collaboration with families. 'The answer is to listen to parents, listen to families and listen to the children themselves," she said. Other MPs voiced frustration that the lack of clarity from the government has fuelled suspicion and anxiety among parents. 'They've been caught off guard, again, by the scale of concern on an issue," one added. 'EHCPs aren't a golden solution, and the system does need reform – but we've got to explain what is being done and bring parents on side,' another backbencher said. Over the summer, ministers will continue discussions with MPs and campaigners before confirming plans in the School's White Paper. With the dust still settling from last week's welfare rebellion - Downing Street will be keenly aware that the success and failure of Send reform will rely on getting MPs and - more crucially - the public onside.
ITV News
26-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Lack of SEND provision is one of most common complaints received by MPs, an ITV News survey shows
The lack of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision across England is one of the most common complaints in MP's inboxes, a survey by ITV News can reveal. In an anonymous survey sent to all MPs, 70% of the 85 respondents said issues related to special educational needs and disabilities were now among the top five queries from constituents. In addition, 62% said SEND was coming up more than twice a week in their inboxes – with 17% saying it was now a daily occurrence. The MPs who responded identified issues related to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP's) – the legal document outlining the necessary support for SEND children - as the most reoccurring complaint, followed by concerns over appropriate school places and lack of support from local authorities. ITV News' findings come as the government is preparing to reform SEND support, with an update expected in the autumn in the school's white paper. Demand for SEND provisions has surged in recent years. More than 1.7 million pupils in England now have special educational needs, up 5.6 per cent from last year. Meanwhile, a growing number of parents are having to fight local authorities for support, with 24,000 SEND tribunals recorded in 2024/5 - a 36 per cent increase from the last financial year. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says Labour inherited 'a SEND system on its knees" with too many children "not having their needs identified at an early enough stage, creating a vicious cycle of overwhelmed local services and children's support needs escalating to crisis point." According to Department for Education statistics published on Thursday, the number of children with EHCPs increased to increased to 638,700 - as of January 2025, meanwhile only 46% of plans were issued within the required 20 week deadline. Government officials told ITV News there remains an active debate about the implementation of EHCPs. 'It currently takes hundreds of bits of paperwork and long delays for a child simply to be advised to see a speech therapist - there needs to be a more efficient way,' one source said. ITV News understands there are concerns within the Department for Education about how to pitch any possible reforms to parents - with officials acknowledging many have had to fight 'tooth and nail' for the little support they have. Following reports that changes to support are under discussion, a petition urging the government to 'retain the legal right to assessment and support in education for children with SEND' has already surpassed 100,000 signatures. We've spent the past few weeks travelling across the country, meeting with MPs and their constituents to understand the scale of the crisis – and it's clear frustration among parents is widespread. 'Every single week, I get parents approaching me with their children, unable to get EHCPs, not getting the support they need in schools,' explained Alex Ballinger, the newly elected Labour MP for Halesowen, in the West Midlands. 'I think it's probably the largest amount of casework of any type of support that people come to me for." ITV News attended a SEND roundtable with Mr Ballinger, where he heard the concerns from parents and teachers. The MP says these roundtables help inform his discussions with ministers in the Department for Education and Department for Health and Social Care, as they continue to work on reforming the sector. In recent months, the government has ramped up funding to increase inclusivity in state schools. 'As part of our Plan for Change, we already taking the first steps, including more early intervention across speech and language, ADHD and autism to prevent needs from escalating and £740 million to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools,' a Department for Education spokesperson said. But Mr Ballinger argued under the current system 'there will never be enough money to make it work in the way that it should be." His constituent, Natalie Child argues that reform is already too late for her ten-year-old daughter Amelia. Amelia is autistic and is currently within a state mainstream primary school, but her mother is struggling to obtain an appropriate secondary school place. 'When she first started at her primary school, she was completely non-verbal, completely uncoordinated,' Natalie explained. 'But she has come on so much under their guidance. The teachers on the ground have been good with her, but she won't get that support going up into secondary school.' Natalie is waiting for an already delayed EHCP review from her local authority and says she has had little communication with their caseworker. 'SEND schools have turned her down because they've said she's not got moderate or severe learning difficulties,' she added. 'So she's not disabled enough for a SEND school, but she can't cope in mainstream and it will restrict her academically.' Natalie is doubtful that any changes will come in time to benefit her daughter. 'Her school placement is here and now," she insisted."Not in a year, not in five years. It's here and now.' Many families have told ITV News they feel their children have been failed by a multitude of public bodies from councils to schools. But Alberto Costa, Conservative MP for South Leicestershire, argues the role played by GPs and NHS trusts also requires further scrutiny. 'We're not reaching breaking point. We've long passed breaking point,' he argued. 'The system has totally failed. Children are being referred by their GPS for assessment and never receive an assessment.' Parents and MPs say the emotional impact of such delays on the family can't be underestimated. Stephanie Harris turned to her local MP – Liberal Democrat Monica Harding - last summer after struggling to obtain support for her nine-year-old son Austin who has dyslexia, dysgraphia and anxiety. 'I remember turning up to your (Monica's) office in tears and being at the point where I didn't feel like we could cope and go on as a family,' explained the mother of two. 'I think when you're at the point of applying for an EHCP, the child and the family are probably at their lowest because that's when their needs are highest, but they're not being met.' Austin remains enrolled at his local mainstream school, but last December Stephanie and the family made the difficult decision to remove him from the setting. 'It went a whole calendar year of struggling to get him into school. He was out of the classroom for a lot of the time. His distress levels were getting higher,' she explained. The process of obtaining an EHCP for Austin took more than 40 weeks – in the meantime Stephanie and the family have had to source alternative provisions for his education. 'It's been quite isolating. We missed out on a lot of family events. We've probably lost friends throughout the process," she said. "We've spent probably over £10,000 trying to get the right support in place, trying to advocate for Austin.' Surrey County Council has now agreed to fund an independent placement starting this September, but Stephanie like other parents, stressed that any SEND reform needed to put the needs of the children front and centre. 'I think the curriculum needs to be overhauled," she told ITV News. "I think they need to have different ways of assessing children even from a very, very young age in school. 'Taking away legal rights of parents is something that I worry about and a lot of people that I speak to within the SEND community really worry about.' Ms Harding, who represents the constituency of Esther and Walton, is among a handful of MPs – elected in July 2024 - who say they have been 'shining a light' on the challenges facing families. She is critical of what she describes as the 'adversarial' approach adopted by many councils . 'The local authority, whose statutory duty is to the child, have to be more open with the family and work with the family instead of against the family.' But her big concern is the cases that don't make their way to her inbox. 'These are the ones that we know about, the ones that come to my vast majority don't come to me,' she said. 'These are children that are dysregulated, being excluded from school, their life chances are going down the pan because they don't have support in place. So Stephanie is amazing, she's talking for a community, but behind her there are so many children that are missing out.'
ITV News
02-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Rise in school absence among autistic kids leaves Wirral family at breaking point
A growing number of children with special educational needs are missing out on school across the North West, with many families reporting long waits for support and diagnoses. Among them is 15-year-old Charlie Jones from Wallasey, who hasn't attended school in two months. He's one of thousands of autistic pupils struggling to access mainstream education, a trend experts say reflects broader challenges in the system, not just individual cases. 'I love learning,' Charlie says. 'I just want to do it in the right environment.' Charlie has been waiting more than two years for an autism diagnosis. His parents, Michelle and Dave, say school became overwhelming, and the lack of timely support left them with no choice but to remove him. 'We've had to work it all out ourselves - what he needs, how to apply for help, how to keep him learning while holding down jobs,' says Michelle. 'It's felt like a constant uphill climb.' Charlie's Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which outlines additional support for his education, was only issued this year, after the legal deadline had passed. While it's a vital step, his parents feel it came too late to prevent disruption. Wirral City Council have since apologised for the late entry of the EHCP, which it says was caused by an error in Charlie's date of birth on the form. Figures suggest Charlie's situation is not unique. In the 2023–24 academic year, 8,090 autistic pupils in the North West were persistently absent from school, up from 2,534 in 2017–18. That's a 219% increase over five years. Wirral Council currently has the highest rate of persistent absence among autistic pupils in the region. A recent Ofsted report acknowledged 'longstanding failings' in provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In a statement, Wirral Council said: 'In September 2024, Wirral Council committed to an additional £2.8m in recurrent funding to increase the size of its statutory SEND service, doubling the size of the team of caseworkers. The new service, SENDSTART, has been fully staffed since January 2025 and whilst this has yet to have an impact of 20-week compliance rates, the number of Education, Health and Care Plans being finalised has increased significantly. In both months March and April this year, more children had their EHCPs finalised than the totality of the sixth months previous. 'The Local Area Partnership understands there is much more remaining to be done until it is providing consistently good support and services to children and young people with SEND but is committed to doing so. A new SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy and Joint Commissioning Plan are about to be launched, outlining priorities and improvements to be made over the next three years. It is through the partnerships across agencies, and mostimportantly, with dynamic parent carer groups that we will make this change for the benefit of our children and their futures.' Charities agree that the system is under strain. Danae Leaman-Hill from Ambitious About Autism says: 'There are more children needing support than ever before. Services are stretched, but that doesn't change the fact that these are formative years, and delays can have long-term consequences.' A spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said:" Responding to feedback from parents, families, and children and young people, we are launching a new neurodevelopmental pathway and vision for neurodiversity services across Cheshire and Merseyside in June 2025. Schools will be supported by the NHS and Local Authorities to be trained in the use of the 'This Is Me' profiling tool to better understand the child's needs - leading to a targeted early support offer in response to those needs. "This work is part of our 'Partnerships for the Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools' (PINS) programme, which builds schools' capacity to support the needs of neurodiverse children. "This is an important step forward, but we know that there is still plenty of work to be done.' For Charlie, the hope is that the system will catch up with him and others. He's currently waiting to hear if he's been accepted into a new school that may better suit his needs. 'We're hopeful,' says Dave. 'We just want him to have the chance to thrive.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Council to be asked to approve changes to home to school travel service
COUNCILLORS will next week get an update on the changes that have been made to transform Cumberland Council's home to school travel service. Members of the council's people overview and scrutiny committee are due to meet at the Civic Centre in Carlisle next Friday (May 23). According to the report – Update: Home to School Travel Transformation – the programme has achieved 'significant cost avoidance' during 2024/25 of more than £1.9 million through a robust review of existing high-cost routes. The report states that new policy elements were agreed by members of the executive committee in February 2025 and it outlines the work being undertaken to reduce costs and next steps. It is recommended that members endorse the principles underpinning the new elements of policy being introduced, welcome the cost-avoidance achieved to date and seek an update next summer on the operation of the policy and team once the new elements have had a chance to become embedded. The matter was last discussed at scrutiny in November and demand from children accessing special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) transport has increased since June 2023. According to the report there were 572 children using the service in June 2023, 615 in March 2024, and 690 in March this year. It states: 'Home to school transport services remain the largest and most financially challenging area of educational responsibility for councils outside of SEND, with these challenges frequently more acute in county areas and for rural councils. 'Over the past few years, home to school travel has become one of the largest spending pressures on local authority budgets. 'Recent County Council Network (CCN) research, published in November 2024, estimated that councils in England will need to spend £2.3 billion on home to school transport services this year to meet rising costs and demand – a 23 per cent increase in just two years. 'Much of this rise has been interwoven with the rapid growth in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). This SEND dynamic is important as many EHCPs explicitly give rise to the need for costly, bespoke transport arrangements. 'Cumberland has seen a considerable rise in demand for transport as the number of students with EHCPs has significantly increased in recent years.' The report describes the council's transformation programme as 'a bold and ambitious initiative' that seeks to fundamentally improve the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of the service. It states: 'By focusing on managing demand, optimising processes, strengthening supply, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, the council can create a service that is resilient, responsive, and aligned with its strategic priorities.' The report adds: 'This review work will become 'business as usual' in the future to ensure that we are continually driving efficiencies. 'SEND demand, however, is forecast to continue to increase, and the price of new tenders issued from April 2025 onwards will reflect the increase in employers' national insurance contributions as well as other inflationary factors; achieving significant savings against current costs will continue to be challenging.' The report outlines a number of policy changes which have been implemented including: Independent Travel Training (ITT); Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs); and an Enhanced Spare Seats Scheme.
