Campaigners are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to abandon the core elements of the government's reforms to special educational needs (SEND) provision. They argue that the proposed changes would unfairly remove legal protections for children.
A letter, led by broadcaster Chris Packham and signed by 36 individuals including actor Sally Phillips and clinical psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen, calls for the prime minister to revise the plans. These reforms were initially laid out under his predecessor, Keir Starmer.
The reforms, announced in February after consultation, aim to curb the increase in legally mandated education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and reduce long-term costs. Under the proposals, millions of pupils would receive individual support plans (ISPs) instead of legally enforceable EHCPs. These ISPs would be agreed between parents and schools and would not be subject to independent legal appeal.
Campaigners state that the proposed reforms would significantly reduce existing legal rights to enforceable EHCPs, parental choice of educational settings, and independent routes of appeal. They are urging ministers to work with SEND families and organisations to maintain existing legal rights and improve accountability.
Ministers are currently consulting on the measures and are expected to recommend some changes to the original proposals. However, sources close to the process suggest that Prime Minister Burnham and Education Secretary Lucy Powell are likely to adopt minor modifications to reinforce legal protections, rather than the wholesale changes requested by the campaign group.