Bridget Phillipson's SEND Reforms Face Uphill Battle Amid Funding Crisis
In a rare moment of policy clarity, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is preparing to unveil proposals to reform the beleaguered special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. The white paper, expected early next week, comes as the government faces mounting pressure from frightened parents and financially squeezed schools.
A System in Desperate Need of Overhaul
The current SEND framework is widely acknowledged to be failing the children it was designed to support. Approximately one in seven children require additional learning support due to social and emotional difficulties, speech and language issues, or neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. Schools are expected to meet these needs from their own budgets for lower-level requirements, while children with higher needs receive an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that outlines legal entitlements to specialist provision.
However, the system has become increasingly dysfunctional. The number of children eligible for EHCPs has more than doubled since 2016, far outpacing the overall increase in identified special educational needs. This surge reflects both post-pandemic difficulties and rising diagnosis rates, but also stems from schools' diminished capacity to support children internally after years of austerity cuts.
The Funding Crisis Deepens
Despite steadily increasing total spending, outcomes for children with additional needs continue to lag behind their peers. The gap in educational attainment has failed to narrow in recent years, representing a significant blight on England's otherwise improving educational standards as measured by international benchmarks.
More alarmingly, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that the SEND budget will face a £6 billion deficit by 2028 if current trends continue. Meanwhile, the real value of EHCP provisions has fallen by approximately one-third over the past decade, meaning children receive less support despite formal recognition of their needs.
"Educational psychologists spend more time assessing children than working with them," notes one observer of the system's inefficiencies. "More money is spent on policing boundaries than on supporting children with significant needs."
Phillipson's Proposed Reforms
The education secretary's anticipated reforms aim to reduce reliance on the EHCP system by raising the threshold for qualification and reassessing children during the transition from primary to secondary school. The government hopes to shift the balance from assessment toward provision, with more children supported through school budgets rather than individual plans.
To address concerns about reduced legal protections, the proposals reportedly include granting some legal status to children with SEND who don't meet the new EHCP threshold. However, the practical implications of this measure remain unclear, raising questions about its effectiveness in safeguarding vulnerable students.
Parental Distrust and Political Challenges
Phillipson faces an almost impossible selling job. Parental faith in the system's ability to meet children's needs has reached rock bottom, exacerbated by the emotionally exhausting and adversarial process of securing EHCPs. Many parents resort to private assessments and legal representation to navigate the system, creating additional financial burdens.
The political landscape presents further obstacles. With schools struggling financially and backbenchers likely to face constituent concerns, the reforms risk triggering significant parliamentary rebellion. The parallels with the government's ill-fated welfare reforms are striking, highlighting the difficulty of implementing structural changes without upfront investment.
Critics argue that reforming the system without additional funding for SEND provision or employment support for disabled people dooms the initiative to be perceived as merely a cost-cutting exercise. This perception could undermine support from both educational professionals and the public.
A Defining Test for Phillipson
Whether Bridget Phillipson can shepherd these reforms through Parliament represents the biggest test of her political career. The education secretary deserves credit for tackling this intractable challenge, particularly given the government's tendency to avoid difficult policy areas. However, success will require navigating complex financial constraints, rebuilding trust with parents, and securing cross-party support for changes that will shape educational provision for years to come.
The coming weeks will reveal whether these sensible-sounding proposals can translate into meaningful improvements for children with special educational needs, or whether they will join the growing list of well-intentioned reforms that falter in implementation.
