Labour members say they are gearing up to vote against any changes that “take away services” or “reduce support, financial or otherwise” for pupils with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).
MPs warnings suggest they could be on collision course with ministers despite Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s intensive efforts to win Labour members over to the need for SEND reforms, due to be unveiled in a White Paper this autumn.
Bridget Phillipson has been mounting a charm offensive with Labour MPs with a series of meetings about SEND reforms (Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)It is understood that ministers are looking at phasing out individual EHCPs, and they have said they want to move towards a SEND system where “most needs” are met within mainstream rather than special schools.
It also comes as Rachel Reeves prepares a Budget in which the Chancellor is expected to be forced to put up taxes to plug an expanding fiscal black hole.
Rachel Reeves is expected to announce tax rises in her next Budget (Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP)MPs’ concerns about SEND changes
The potential for trouble for Keir Starmer’s government was underlined again last week when 25 MPs and staff representing a further 15, attended a packed “drop-in” session where they were able to discuss the potential reforms with parents of children with SEND.
New schools minister Georgia Gould. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561493100545&sk=photos
It was held last Monday, the day of a Westminster Hall debate on specials needs held in response to a petition with more than 127,000 signatures calling for the retention of the legal right to support for children with SEND.
“I’ve been an MP 15 years. I’ve never seen so many people in a Westminster Hall debate,” they said. “There was more than 120 people in that debate, most of whom had wanted to speak…
Ministers have also been warned about changing the SEND system and the need to protect pupils’ legal rights by the cross-party Commons education select committee.
The Government has been concerned about the potential for SEND to turn into “welfare reforms mark 2” – a repeat of the damaging backbench rebellion earlier this year that led to the gutting of the benefits changes it had wanted to make.
It is understood that ministers had originally been planned to unveil the SEND plans in the Spring but that Downing Street got “cold feet” as the welfare controversy raged, worrying that anything that could be framed as “disabled kids lose rights” would “go down like an absolute lead balloon”.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, who was suspended from Labour, after criticising and voting against the welfare reforms, said: “If we don’t get this right, we’re in for another load of dissent and disagreement, because every constituency has got SEND families, every MP has got SEND families who write to them.
‘Families are nervous and worried’
He added that the SEND Westminster Hall debate had illustrated the strength of feeling among MPs and suggested there could be “more” of a backlash than for welfare.
Labour MP Jen Craft, with Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper last year (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)
Jen Craft, a Labour MP with a daughter with SEND, said constituents were worried about the loss of legal rights.
Craft said that her daughter currently gets support guaranteed by an EHCP and she would be concerned if this did not exist.
Craft said she was “talking extensively to ministers”, including the Education Secretary, to share her views. She doubted whether MPs will revolt in the same way they did over welfare, saying: “I think everyone is determined that it doesn’t become that.”
SEND revolt could be bigger than welfare reversal
“The welfare issue was more widespread, because there’s a lots and lots of people who depend on that,” they said. “This is more acute. This is to do with people who need an up in life, the parents, the families, the siblings, they all need support…
They added that resistance would come from “right across the parties against any move for a reduction and support for SEND individuals”.
They also said any backlash would come down to whether the reforms resulted in cuts to services.
They said discussion and negotiation were the “first port of call” but added: “Ultimately, further down the tracks, you may well choose to vote, you know, to vote against something.”
The Department for Education (DfE) has sought to allay fears about cuts with a promise to protect existing SEND support, saying: “Any changes we make will improve support for children and parents, stop parents from having to fight for support, and protect provision currently in place.”
A DfE spokesperson said: “This government inherited a SEND system left on its knees, which is why we are listening closely to families and teachers as we work to make sure more children can achieve and thrive in their local school.
“Our priority will always be improving support and we will set out our plans to ensure all children get the outcomes and life chances they deserve later this year.”
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