A local government source said Downing Street got “cold feet” about the optics of announcing its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) plan in the spring, amid concerns it could be seen as taking away the rights of disabled children.
“There’s a real hesitancy about in other parts of Government about the perception of this when it’s published,” they added.
It is understood that plans for the shake-up were ready to be published in the spring, but they were pushed back after the Cabinet Office was asked to commission a rapid review.
However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in last month’s spending review that the details of the Government’s SEND reform would be set out in a schools white paper in the autumn.
But the local government source said that the Department for Education (DfE) was “fighting an uphill battle” to persuade other parts of Government of the reform and claimed that the review was commissioned to essentially “mark the DfE’s homework”.
It comes after Keir Starmer was forced to significantly water down the welfare bill at the 11th hour following a rebellion of more than 120 Labour MPs, costing the Chancellor £5bn a year.
Campaigners are bracing to fight tooth and nail to keep EHCPs – legally binding documents that describe a young person’s individual teaching needs and which must be obtained before parents can claim council-funded support.
Asked if ministers were looking to phase out EHCPs, she said “we will strengthen and put in place better support for children” and again promised the schools white paper in the autumn.
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Dozens of charities and campaigners have signed a letter, shared with The Guardian, that warned against changes to the SEND system that would restrict or abolish EHCPs.
Labour MP Helen Hayes, the head of the cross-party Education Select Committee, said the Government’s refusal to commit to keeping EHCPs is making parents “very, very fearful”.
Senior Labour figures have said that any reforms to the SEND system would be seen as “welfare mark two” after the backbench mutiny that forced Starmer into major concessions over cuts to personal independence payments (PIP) and universal credit.
Labour had promised in its 2024 general election manifesto to “take a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs”.
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