Campaigners are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reconsider the government's proposed reforms to special educational needs provision, which they argue will unfairly strip away legal protections for children. A letter signed by a group of disabled children, parents, and experts, led by broadcaster Chris Packham, calls for a reassessment of the plans initiated under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Background of the Reforms
The sweeping reforms, announced earlier this year by Starmer and former education secretary Bridget Phillipson, aim to reduce the number of legally mandated education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) and to save money in the long term. However, campaigners believe that these changes threaten the legal rights of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).
In their letter, published in the Guardian, the campaigners state:
“"The legal rights of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) are still under threat. The government’s proposed reforms would significantly reduce existing legal rights to enforceable EHCPs, parental choice of educational settings, and independent routes of appeal."
