As the government prepares to unveil its long-awaited Schools White Paper next month, reports have surfaced that Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson may “water down” SEND reforms following a potential backbench rebellion and a massive national funding deficit.
The news comes as a petition signed by over 130,000 parents was handed to 10 Downing Street today, demanding that the government does not “betray” families by using the new reforms as a cover for cost-cutting.
The “Lockstep” Debate
According to reports in The Times today, the Department for Education and No. 10 are “working in lockstep” to finalize a plan that could see the use of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) restricted only to children with the most “severe and complex” needs.
Currently, 5.3% of all pupils in England have an EHCP—up from 4.8% just last year. Ministers are reportedly concerned that the system is becoming “financially unsustainable,” with many local authorities facing individual SEND deficits of up to £6 million.
A “Postcode Lottery” for Provision
The F40 campaign, a group representing 43 local authorities, has warned today that without a significant cash injection, the UK is heading toward a “permanent postcode lottery.” They argue that the current funding model unfairly penalizes rural and underfunded councils, forcing them to choose between legally-binding SEND support and keeping mainstream school lights on.
Neil Duncan Jordan, MP for Poole, who led the petition hand-in at Westminster, stated: “If these reforms are just a way of cutting costs and leaving families high and dry, it will be a complete betrayal. Parents already feel overlooked and marginalized—they need a voice, not a budget cut.”
The Union Backlash
The teaching unions have also entered the fray. Following the government’s recent announcement of a £200m training package, the NASUWT and ASCL warned today that training alone is “barely a drop in the bucket.”
Union leaders argue that while upskilling teachers is vital, it cannot replace the specialist support services—such as educational psychologists and speech therapists—that have been “decimated” over the last decade.
Website Sidebar: What’s at Stake in the February White Paper?
- The “Threshold” Change: Will the government raise the bar for who qualifies for an EHCP?
- The Funding Gap: A projected £6 billion national deficit in SEND budgets by 2028.
- The “Inclusion” Mandate: New expectations for mainstream schools to support SEND pupils without additional statutory funding.
- The Parent Voice: 130,000 signatures calling for ring-fenced EHCP funding.
