Ministers have announced a 'generational' overhaul of special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support in England, pledging £4bn to transform provision. The changes, set to be unveiled in a white paper, are considered a key policy moment for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
The reforms include tailored specialist support in all mainstream schools and 60,000 additional special needs school places. Phillipson, writing in the Guardian, said the overhaul would bring 'improved support, not removed support', describing it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to define the future of education.
Under the plans, schools will receive additional funding for specialised support, but stricter criteria will apply for education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which will be reserved for children with the most severe needs. Parents will no longer have a free choice of school but will be given a list of possibilities, with appeal rights retained.
The government warned councils they could lose control of Send services if they fail to meet legal duties, with more than half of EHCPs currently issued outside the 20-week deadline. Starmer cited his late brother's struggles as personal inspiration, stating that 'getting the right support should never be a battle'.
