Former Labour Education Secretaries Rally Support for Send Overhaul in Open Letter
Five former Labour education secretaries have issued a joint appeal to Labour MPs, urging them to support the government's proposed reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system in English schools. In an open letter, they describe the plans as "a once in a generation chance" to address a system that is widely acknowledged as broken.
Signatories and Political Context
The letter is signed by David Blunkett, Estelle Morris, Charles Clarke, Ruth Kelly, and Alan Johnson, who collectively held the education secretary post for a decade from 1997. It comes ahead of the imminent publication of a schools white paper, scheduled for Monday, which will outline detailed proposals to transform the Send framework. This reform is poised to become one of the defining policy challenges for Keir Starmer's administration.
Downing Street is keen to avoid any rebellion, mindful that past controversies over changes to disability benefits could undermine the prime minister's authority. The proposed Send changes have generally been received more positively by Labour MPs, largely due to broad consensus that the current system is ineffective. However, some MPs remain apprehensive, particularly regarding potential adjustments to how children qualify for education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which legally guarantee them support.
Key Arguments in the Letter
The former education secretaries emphasize the high political stakes in their letter. "As former Labour education ministers, we know that this really is a once in a generation chance to change a broken system for good, a unique opportunity to deliver better life chances for millions of children across our country," they state. The letter is also signed by Jim Knight, an education expert and former schools minister.
They highlight that the reforms, to be detailed by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, "will enshrine the importance of children being confident to attend their local mainstream school and develop friendships in their local community for life." The letter notes that the plan has been "painstakingly put together after more than 18 months of consultation," acknowledging the difficulty of getting such reforms right.
Focus on Mainstream Inclusion and Concerns
The white paper is expected to prioritize better inclusion of children with all but the most severe needs in mainstream schools, with direct support provided to these institutions. While significant attention will be on changes to EHCPs, including reviews when children transition to secondary school, the broader aim is to enhance support within mainstream settings.
A government source commented, "There are MPs who are understandably nervous about all this, not least because of all the letters they get, but for the most part they like the direction of travel. And when they see the final proposals, they will understand and welcome where we're going on this. This is a good Labour package, underpinned by good Labour values." The source added that the goal is to help parents access support without resorting to legal battles with local councils and to reject narratives of "overdiagnosis."
Lingering Apprehensions Among MPs
Despite overall support, some Labour MPs express lingering concerns, particularly about whether parents will retain the right to legal appeal if they believe their child is not receiving adequate support. One MP noted, "There is understandable anxiety amongst parents, but if the reforms as a whole look to promise a better system with enough time for a smooth transition, then I think MPs will recognise that. Where I think the challenges may come is on the legal redress issue – if parents have enough confidence that they can hold schools and local authorities to account on the support they are supposed to be giving."
The former education secretaries conclude their appeal by urging all Labour colleagues to back the changes, stating, "We must not betray the millions of children across our country who deserve the best from their government, and their politicians. These reforms will give those children more support, not less, after years of having the help they need supplied too little, too late, and too often not at all."
