'I'm extremely concerned': Parents react to SEND reforms

ITV Granada Reports’ political correspondent Líse McNally asks whether the government’s plans will make the grade.

Several parents in the North West say they are concerned about the new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms.

Government estimates suggest that approximately one in eight children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who currently receive the highest level of support will move to new plans between 2030 and 2035.

These estimates are included in a series of reforms designed to make England’s SEND system more inclusive, representing a move away from the current trend of increasing placements in costly specialist schools.

Kimberly Hind's five-year-old son Harvey recently started attending a specialist school after losing much of his eyesight and hearing.

The mother, from Clitheroe, says there are many issues with current SEND provisions, but reducing the reliance on specialist schools is not the answer.

She said: "He had zero confidence throughout mainstream [school], he stopped eating, he stopped sleeping, he would self-destruct... And we actually had to get a specialist to help us to go out of the front door because he was so afraid of the world around him.

"Now, I mean, we've seen ourselves this morning, he ran out of the door for school, his speech has come on.

"He's a different child. And I know you can only take my word for that, but many families are experiencing not even getting these provisions at all. And it's heartbreaking, it's heartbreaking."

In England, if they need more support than is typically provided in mainstream schools, their parent or carer can apply for an education, health and care plan (EHCP), which sets out the extra support they are entitled to.

Harvey, who is in year one, does have EHCP, but his mother fears the new proposals will have an impact on his future.

Children who are currently in year three or above will keep their EHCP until at least age 16.

Those in year two or below will be reassessed when they move to secondary school.

Kimberley said, "We live that struggle and if any of that was to be taken away from us or stripped back or... Harvey doesn't cope well with any change..

"I fear we will be back to square one."

Naomi Sykes, a neurodivergent single parent to eight-year-old Harry, is deeply concerned about the direction of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision under the government’s proposed reforms.

Harry is autistic and has ADHD, and despite being “extremely bright", he struggles with “very profound and complex needs in terms of his social, emotional and mental health.”

Naomi stresses that “there should be no ceiling to what he should be able to achieve,” but insists that education must be “incredibly nurturing and respectful of his need for autonomy.”

Naomi said, “Me and many families and professionals are greatly concerned... it could quite easily see all sectors of education moving backwards rather than forwards.”

She describes the exhausting fight for suitable support, stating, “I feel like I have to bend over backwards and go way beyond what is within my means to be able to compromise for what Harry actually needs… when it should just be a right for every child to be able to thrive.”

Why are SEND reforms needed?

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the current system “does not work” for children and parents, with Education Secretary Ms Phillipson saying too many parents are having to “fight” for the right support for their child.

Spending on support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has ballooned in recent years amid rising demand, leading to spiralling costs for councils and large deficits.

Parents in the North West say more parents are having to stop work to tend to their childrens with little support provided in their plans.

They say more specialist training is required for mainstream facilities to be able to provide adequate education, health and care needs.

The government wants to have a more inclusive system, with the reforms pledging to provide “inclusive mainstream alongside high-quality specialist provision” through schools which are “equipped and funded to support children with Send to achieve and thrive in inclusive mainstream settings, working together with high-quality specialist provision”.

So what are the proposed reforms?

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson promised education, health and care plans (EHCPs), a legal document setting out the support children with SEND are entitled to, will stay “for children with the most complex needs will stay”.

Mainstream schools will receive direct funding to support SEND children as part of a £4 billion package, to make the system more inclusive, including investment in training for adaptive teaching styles.

Some £1.6 billion over three years will be provided to early years, schools, and colleges through an “inclusive mainstream fund”.

While another £1.8 billion over the same period will go towards creating an “experts at hand” service, made up of specialists such as SEND teachers and speech and language therapists in every area.

The White Paper sets out to change the current legal rights of children with less severe needs and instead establish a new tiered structure for supporting SEND children, based on the level of their need.

The proportion of children with SEND on the current highest level of school support is projected to start falling each year from the end of the decade.

Making a speech at a school in the East Midlands, Phillipson said, “Forget the misinformation you might have heard.

“EHCPs for children with the most complex needs will stay, guided by nationally defined and evidence-based specialist provision packages.”

In summary;

• EHCPs will be reserved for only the most complex special educational needs by 2035.

• Children who currently have an EHCP will keep them until they reach the next stage of their education (Primary to Secondary).

• Children will be reassessed for EHCPs as they move up to their next stage, starting from 2029.

• Under the changes, the government projects that the proportion of children with SEND on the current highest level of school support will start falling each year from the end of the decade.

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