A new national campaign is calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to weaken the legal rights of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England, ahead of expected reforms in the government’s schools white paper. The group, Save Our Children’s Rights, backed by actor Sally Phillips and a cross-party group of MPs, fears that changes could roll back statutory protections that families currently rely on to secure support for their children.
Campaigners have released a video message addressed to Starmer and delivered a petition with more than 130,000 signatures to Downing Street, urging ministers to retain legally enforceable Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the right to appeal decisions. They argue that undermining these legal safeguards would leave many families without an effective way to ensure access to necessary educational support.
Proponents say that statutory rights are vital to holding authorities to account and preventing arbitrary cutbacks in support, especially in a SEND system already under strain. Government officials have previously indicated reforms aim to improve inclusion, but campaigners want explicit guarantees that existing legal protections will be preserved.
Original article: New campaign urges Starmer not to diminish legal rights of SEND children — The Guardian, 12 January 2026: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jan/12/new-campaign-urges-starmer-not-to-diminish-legal-rights-of-send-children
