Downing Street is facing another bruising battle following last week’s humiliating retreat on welfare reforms, as MPs, campaigners and parents voice concern at its overhaul of special needs education for children in England.
A letter to the Guardian, signed by dozens of special needs and disability charities and campaigners – including the broadcaster Chris Packham, actor Sally Phillips and Jane Asher, actor and president of the National Autistic Society – says parents fear the reforms may restrict or abolish the vital education, health and care plans (EHCPs) that more than 600,000 children and young people rely on for individual support.
The letter, with more than 100 signatories backing the newly formed Save Our Childrens’ Rights campaign, is calling for EHCPs to be retained, “now and in the future”, or risk seeing thousands of children “denied vital provision, or losing access to education altogether”.
Labour MPs who spoke to the Guardian are worried that ministers are unable to explain key details of the special educational needs (SEN) shake-up being considered in the schools white paper to be published in October. Several MPs warned that issues in the white paper such as the future of EHCPs could eventually cause another rebellion, similar to that which forced the government to gut its welfare bill after a major backlash from backbenchers.
One MP said: “This could be a massive problem. We are hoping there will be proper engagement around it, but we are worried about some of the signals we are picking up.” Another said: “People are really, really worried about this. It is one of the things that is going to make people feel very, very uncomfortable.”
Although ministers contend that policies are still being developed, discussions are said to include the phasing out of EHCPs over a number of years, or restricting them to the most profound level of need. Marie Tidball, the Labour MP who gave an emotional Commons speech against the welfare bill last week, said the Send reforms were now a major focus for many of her fellow backbenchers.
