Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have expressed concerns that Labour's proposed reforms to the SEND system could worsen access to education, leaving autistic pupils to 'fall through the cracks'. They fear the new four-tier system, outlined in the Schools White Paper, may strip away hard-won legal support and reassess pupils' needs in a way that forces children to 'fail first' before receiving appropriate help.
Providers of special needs education have also voiced alarm that the new approach could push pupils out of mainstream schools. The reforms aim to create a more streamlined system, but critics argue they lack detail and could undermine existing protections for vulnerable children.
The Government has yet to release full details of how the four-tier model will operate. However, the White Paper signals a significant shift in how SEND support is allocated, raising fears among campaigners that children with complex needs may be left without adequate provision.
Labour has defended the reforms as necessary to address systemic failures in the current SEND system, which has been criticised for long delays and inconsistent support. But parents and educators remain sceptical, warning that without careful implementation, the changes could do more harm than good.
