Special Educational Needs: Reform

(asked on 8th September 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform the system and provision of education, health and care plans for pupils.


Answered by
Baroness Smith of Malvern Portrait
Baroness Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 20th October 2025

​​Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

​This government inherited a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system that has been failing to meet the needs of children and families for far too long. As part of the government’s Plan for Change, we are determined to make changes which will restore the trust of parents and ensure that children and young people with SEND, including those with education, health and care (EHC) plans, can achieve and thrive in their education.

​The department is thinking about how we protect effective support for children, but make accessing support less bureaucratic and adversarial, and how we intervene earlier. There will always be a legal right to additional support for children and young people with SEND. Any changes we make in future will improve support for children and parents, stop parents from having to fight for support, and protect provision which is currently in place.

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