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Special Educational Needs: Reform

Asked by Fabian HamiltonLabourDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 4 November 2025UIN 70300

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to reform specialist provision for children with SEND.

Answered by Georgia Gould

This government’s ambition is that every child or young person in our country deserves the best possible educational experience, one that is academically stretching, where every child or young person feels like they belong, and that sets them up for life and work. There will always be a legal right to the additional support that children with SEND need.

This government is determined to deliver reform that stands the test of time and rebuilds the confidence of families, which is why we are launching a further period of listening and engagement, testing our proposals with parents, teachers and experts in every region of the country, so that lived experience and partnership are at the heart of our solutions.

We know that families need change, and that is exactly why it is critical we get this right. The department will set out the full Schools White Paper in the new year, building on existing work to create a system rooted in inclusion, where children receive high-quality support early on and can thrive at their local school.

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