Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced a £4bn overhaul of special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support in England, describing it as a 'generational' reform. The changes, set out in a white paper, include tailored specialist support in all mainstream schools and 60,000 additional special needs school places. Councils face losing control of Send services if they fail to meet legal duties, with more than half of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) currently issued outside the 20-week deadline.
Writing in the Guardian, Phillipson said the reforms would mean 'improved support, not removed support', and represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to 'define the future of education'. The package includes £1.6bn in direct funding for early years settings, schools and colleges over three years, which can be used for provisions such as small-group language support. The remaining funds will be allocated to create new specialist places and improve inclusion in mainstream schools.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the plans, saying his late brother Nick, who had learning difficulties, inspired his commitment to Send reform. 'Getting the right support should never be a battle – it should be a given,' Starmer wrote in the Times. He added that children with Send 'belong in mainstream schooling' where possible, and that the system must move away from a 'one size fits all' approach.
Under the changes, EHCPs will be reserved for children with the most severe and complex needs, while new plans for lower tiers will still confer additional support and legal rights. Parents will no longer have a free choice of school but will be given a list of possibilities, with appeals allowed via the Send tribunal. The reforms follow a major listening drive by Phillipson after a backlash from MPs and parents last autumn delayed the original announcement.
Government sources said the white paper puts councils 'on notice' to meet their duties, with powers to run Send services stripped if they fail. The overhaul comes amid record demand for Send provision and mounting parental distrust, with families currently winning almost all tribunal appeals that go to a full hearing. MPs who had been wary of the changes expressed cautious optimism that concerns had been addressed, though they warned that full details could still raise issues.
