In
her first week in office, Bridget Phillipson convened nearly 100 newly elected
Labour MPs for a meeting focused on one urgent issue: special educational
needs. It was July 2024, and the education secretary quickly realized that
advancing a comprehensive SEND reform plan would become the defining challenge
of her tenure.
For
a lot of people in the room, the problem was very personal. Members of
Parliament like Jen Craft, Daniel Francis, Steve Race, and then-business
secretary Jonathan Reynolds had firsthand experience with the system for people
with special educational needs and disabilities. Some people brought knowledge
from their work with charities, unions, and disability rights groups. Most of
them were dealing with a lot of emails from people in their districts who were
unhappy with a system that many people thought was too stretched and hostile.
The
urgency surrounding the SEND reform plan was sharpened by Phillipson’s early
political battles. Her first major legislative effort, the children’s wellbeing
and schools bill, sparked confusion and criticism. Proposed changes to academy
trusts drew attacks from the rightwing press and skepticism within Labour
ranks. Some MPs struggled to grasp the rationale behind certain provisions,
while Downing Street appeared reluctant to fully defend them.
Even
though the bill passed and Phillipson kept her job, the incident left her with
bruises. People who know her say it changed how she did things. The main point
was clear: big changes like these need open communication, early involvement,
and a strong moral case.
After
the government voted to cut welfare, those lessons became even more important.
When Liz Kendall brought up welfare ideas earlier this year, MPs were shown
data that showed more people were not working and the costs of personal
independence payments were going up. But the economic framing and the spring
statement, which included last-minute budget freezes, made many MPs think that
the changes were mostly about saving money and not about making things better.
The
backlash came quickly. A rebellion broke out, which should serve as a warning
for any big policy change. Many MPs were worried that the SEND reform plan
could end up like that if it seemed like it was more about saving money than
fixing problems in the system.
Determined
to avoid that scenario, Phillipson and her team embarked on an extensive consultation
effort. The Department for Education emphasized that the SEND reform plan is
not centered on reducing education, health, and care plans, known as EHCPs,
even if overall numbers may decline over time. Instead, the stated aim is to
redesign a system that too often forces parents into lengthy legal battles to
secure support.
Phillipson
met with important Labour groups in person, such as the Socialist Campaign
Group led by John McDonnell and the Tribune group of soft left MPs, many of
whom had rebelled over welfare. The outreach showed that they knew they would
need to earn the trust of Parliament.
At
the same time, Georgia Gould, the schools minister, led a big engagement effort
that included talking to about 8,000 parents and other interested parties. The
goal of the listening exercise was to show that people's worries were being
heard before the final proposals were made.
Despite
the groundwork, the SEND reform plan still faces skepticism. Parents fear that
losing certain legal avenues to challenge decisions could leave them reliant on
institutions they already distrust. For families exhausted by years of
navigating tribunals and appeals, promises of improved provision without
conflict can sound aspirational rather than guaranteed.
There
are still doubts about how the extra £4 billion for the sector will be used,
even though it has been promised. People are still wondering if all teachers
will get enough SEND training and if it's possible to hire enough speech and
language specialists.
Within
Parliament, goodwill exists but is fragile. The welfare rebellion showed how
confidence can erode over weeks as concerns accumulate. Phillipson’s political
survival and the success of the SEND reform plan will likely hinge on whether
she can sustain trust among MPs and families alike.
In
the end, the debate is not just about money or changing the way things are run.
It's all about trust. In a political climate where hope alone rarely gets
lasting support, getting stakeholders to believe that a better system can
really replace a broken one may be the hardest thing to do.
Also Read :- UK University Financial Reporting Delays Raise Sector Concerns