Labour's Send Revolution: A High-Stakes Gamble Amid Reform UK Threats
In a bold move, Labour's Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has unveiled a sweeping 10-year plan to overhaul England's special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system. This ambitious initiative aims to foster a more inclusive and generous education framework, but it is fraught with challenges, including funding concerns, the risks of mainstreaming, and the looming specter of a potential Reform UK government that could undermine its progressive goals.
The Vision: Inclusivity and Investment
Phillipson's plan represents a stark departure from the demonization of disabled and vulnerable children that has marred recent public discourse. Instead, it champions an optimistic vision, allocating £1.6 billion over three years to ensure early identification and consistent support for Send children in mainstream schools. An additional £1.8 billion is earmarked for integrating speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, and other professionals into school settings. New family hubs, reminiscent of the Sure Start program, will each feature an in-house Send practitioner, reinforcing the government's commitment to early intervention and holistic care.
The cornerstone of this reform is a renewed emphasis on mainstream "inclusion," intended to reverse the exodus into specialist provision that accelerated under previous administrations. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of Send children in mainstream schools plummeted by nearly a quarter, while those in special schools surged by almost a third. Labour's strategy seeks to rectify this by promoting kinder, more open school cultures, though it may face resistance from academies and free schools prioritizing rigid discipline and academic attainment.
Concerns and Criticisms
Despite its noble intentions, Phillipson's plan has sparked significant apprehension. Teachers in mainstream schools worry about ballooning workloads and insufficient funds for staff training. The £1.6 billion allocation, when broken down, falls short of enabling each school to hire even a single new teaching assistant, as highlighted by advocacy groups like Special Needs Jungle. Moreover, the push for mainstreaming overlooks practical limitations, such as large class sizes and sensory overload, which can make specialist schools a better fit for some children.
A particularly contentious aspect is the proposed overhaul of education, health and care plans (EHCPs). Currently, nearly 639,000 EHCPs provide legally backed summaries of children's needs, offering crucial rights and redress for families. The government plans to reduce these by 270,000 by 2035, reserving them for children with "the most complex needs." Instead, a new system based on seven pre-ordained "specialist provision packages"—including categories like "profound and multiple learning difficulties"—will be introduced. For others, Individual Support Plans with weaker legal footing will be favored, raising concerns about diminished parental rights and transparency.
The Reform UK Factor
Perhaps the most alarming threat to Labour's Send revolution is the potential rise of Reform UK. If this party gains power, its leaders, who have endorsed myths about "overdiagnosis" and suggested educating Send children in empty churches, could shift the conversation toward cruelty and austerity. Phillipson's plan assumes a continuity of kind, optimistic leadership, but a Reform UK government might dismantle these efforts, exposing vulnerable families to hostile policies.
Send parents, many of whom have fought tirelessly for their children's rights, fear that the squeeze on EHCPs coincides with this political uncertainty. They argue that now is not the time to reduce protections, especially given the tenuous political landscape. Drawing parallels to recent U-turns on issues like farming and pub regulations, they hope Labour might reconsider its approach to safeguard Send families.
Conclusion: A Precarious Path Forward
As consultations on Phillipson's Send reforms begin, the stakes could not be higher. This 10-year plan is a courageous attempt to transform education for 1.7 million Send children in England, but it must navigate funding shortfalls, implementation hurdles, and the volatile political climate. The government's success will depend on its ability to balance ambition with practicality, ensuring that inclusivity does not come at the cost of essential rights and support. In an era marked by penny-pinching and polarization, Labour's Send revolution stands as a high-stakes experiment—one that must withstand both internal critiques and external threats to truly deliver on its promise of a kinder, more equitable future.
