Number 10 delayed reforming the system which ensures pupils with special educational needs get personalised support at school over fears it could spark a fresh Labour rebellion, The i Paper can reveal.
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.
The source said Number 10 had been “hesitant about publishing any sort of white paper that could easily be framed as ‘disabled kids lose rights’, ‘disabled kids lose access to support’, and how that will go down like an absolute lead balloon, given the cuts to welfare spending went down really badly”.
“There’s a real hesitancy about in other parts of Government about the perception of this when it’s published,” they added.
Ministers and Government advisors on SEND have repeatedly refused to rule out scrapping education, health and care plans (EHCPs) or reducing the role of the SEND Tribunal as part of the reforms, which many parents rely on to fight for the support they need.
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.
The Guardian reported in early March that the Government was preparing a white paper in late spring setting out details of a “complete recalibration” of the SEND system.
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.
The reforms will be the key to the future of many local councils, with total deficits in special educational needs budgets projected to hit £6 billion by March 2026 if nothing is done, according to the County Councils Network (CCN).
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”.
A senior Labour source also said they understood that the opposition to welfare cuts was partly why the SEND white paper had been delayed by several months.
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.
Labour has also U-turned on winter fuel payments, announcing last month that the Government would reinstate the payments for millions of pensioners, costing £1.25bn.
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.
On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson refused to guarantee that parents would have the same legal rights to ensure children received SEND 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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Education minister Stephen Morgan again refused to rule out changes to the current SEND system, telling Sky News on Monday morning: “I’m not going to get into specifics today, but it’s absolutely right that we work really hard to reform the system to make sure it works for every child.”
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.
A parliamentary petition to retain the legal right to assessment and support in education for children with SEND has gained more than 110,000 signatures. On 4 June, the Government responded, saying it would “restore families’ confidence and ensure that children with SEND will get the tailored support they need to achieve and thrive”.
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”.
Committing to keeping EHCPs would be the “right thing” for the Government to do, she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
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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