Labour's Major SEND Overhaul Diverts Funding from Independent Schools
Labour has announced a sweeping reform of support for special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils, pledging to strip funding from independent special schools in a move that has ignited fears of a new 'class war' in education. The government is unveiling a £4 billion package over three years aimed at bolstering provision in mainstream schools and colleges, with plans to create a bank of specialist teachers and therapists in every area.
Funding Shift and Accusations of Profiteering
Education minister Georgia Gould made clear in broadcast interviews that money will be diverted from independent special schools, which many parents currently choose for their children. She accused these institutions of 'making profit over vulnerable children', highlighting concerns about private equity involvement. Despite this left-wing stance, teaching unions have dismissed the funding as inadequate, while Labour MPs express nervousness over changes to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which entitle children to support.
From 2029, the plans are set to be reassessed once children reach the end of primary school, raising the prospect that many EHCPs will be axed. Under the proposals, pupils with less complex needs such as autism and ADHD will reportedly no longer be deemed eligible for EHCPs after the number of children with them soared from 240,000 to 639,000 in a decade.
Starmer's Personal Connection and Government Vision
Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a breakfast meeting with school leaders and charities in Downing Street, where he referenced his own brother Nick, who died on Boxing Day 2024 after struggling with learning difficulties. Starmer said his brother was 'put to one side' and that 'his life was very different from mine' because the system did not work for him. He acknowledged improvements since then but emphasized that many children still lack opportunities to reach their full potential.
The measures will go out for consultation for a year. Ms Gould told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that 'too much' money is 'going into the wrong places', specifically criticizing 'private equity backed special schools making profit over vulnerable children'. When questioned if the reforms aim to limit costs, she insisted the goal is to improve outcomes for children, though she acknowledged a massive 86 per cent increase in spending over the last five years.
New Funding Formula and Political Backlash
A central part of the proposals involves reforming how £8 billion in funding is targeted, shifting from free school meals eligibility to household income as the primary criterion. Labour's new disadvantage funding formula will also consider where a child lives, how low parental income is, and how long this has been the case.
The Conservatives have criticised the proposals as part of Labour's class warfare, following the addition of VAT to private school fees. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson defended the government's approach, stating they are 'fiercely ambitious for children and young people with Send' and deserve a system that 'lifts them up'. She called the reforms a 'watershed moment' and a 'golden opportunity' to cut the link between background and success.
Union Criticism and Opposition Concerns
NASUWT general secretary Matt Wrack labeled the idea that Send provision could be adequately overhauled with 'this low level of funding' as 'ridiculous', noting that years of underfunding mean the new investment is 'barely a drop in the bucket'. Tory shadow education secretary Laura Trott argued that 'it is wrong to narrow the disadvantage gap by dragging everyone down'.
Yesterday, Ms Phillipson was forced to deny she was a 'class warrior' while vowing to 'come down hard on those who are profiting from the system'. She told Times Radio that quality in private equity-backed specialist schools is often 'very, very variable' with high costs, but maintained her ambition for every child regardless of background.
The overhaul represents a significant shift in education policy, with parents, unions, and opposition parties closely watching its implementation and impact on vulnerable pupils across the country.
