Press Story

Responding to announcements about the forthcoming schools white paper, Avnee Morjaria, associate director at IPPR, said:

“The government is right to set out a plan to reform the SEND system. For too long it has not been working for children, families, schools or councils, and the scale of the challenge means doing nothing is not an option.

“These proposed reforms address the problems everyone has been pointing out for years: at present support for children with special educational needs is too slow, too adversarial, too expensive, and too often arrives only after their needs have escalated. Shifting toward earlier, more consistent support is essential.

“SEND reform is one of the most difficult areas of domestic policy and has become deeply contentious. But reforming EHCPs and the wider system cannot become the next political flashpoint in Westminster. The costs of delay are already being felt.

“This must now be a moment for everyone to get behind a serious programme of reform. No plan will be perfect, but the priority has to be making the system work better for children and ensuring it is sustainable for the long term.”

The government has previously acknowledged the contribution of IPPR’s analysis to its thinking on SEND reform. In a letter to the Education Select Committee Chair announcing the delay to the white paper, the Education Secretary said her department was “considering carefully” IPPR’s recommendations as part of developing the reforms.

Specific policies IPPR recommended that the white paper is expected to include, are:

Retaining existing EHCPs, so no child with a current plan will lose one, while setting up the new system
Creating a new Additional Learning Support system, delivered in schools by schools
Revamping EHCPs into LA coordinated plans for only the most complex cases of need
Investing in SEND professionals by rebalancing funding towards early intervention in schools

ENDS

Avnee Morjaria and Harry Quilter Pinner are available for interview

Avnee Morjaria: Avnee is a former teacher, school leader, Ofsted inspector, and an advisor at the Department for Education. She is associate director for public services at IPPR.
Harry Quilter-Pinner: Harry is the executive director at IPPR and a frequent commentator on TV and radio. He is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures shaping government policy outside of the Labour Party.

CONTACT

Liam Evans, head of news and media, 07419 365 334 l.evans@ippr.org

David Wastell, director of news and communications, 07921 403651 d.wastell@ippr.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

IPPR’s report ‘Breaking the cycle: A blueprint for special educational needs and disability (SEND) reform’ was considered very influential with the government
IPPR is the UK’s most influential think tank, with alumni in Downing Street, the cabinet and parliament. We are the ideas factory behind many of the current government’s flagship policies, including changes to fiscal rules, the creation of a National Wealth Fund, GB Energy, devolution, and reforms to the NHS. IPPR is an independent charity which has seconded staff to government departments including DHSC and DESNZ to support ministers on crucial policies such as the 10-year health plan and the industrial strategy: www.ippr.org