Campaigners led by Chris Packham urge prime minister to rethink Send reforms
Summary
Campaigners led by Chris Packham are asking Prime Minister Andy Burnham to stop planned changes to special educational needs (Send) support, saying the changes would take away important legal rights for children. The government plans to replace legally enforceable education plans with less formal individual support plans managed by schools, but campaigners want to keep the current system to protect children's rights.Key Facts
- Campaigners include disabled children, parents, experts, and broadcaster Chris Packham.
- The government plans to replace Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) with Individual Support Plans (ISPs).
- ISPs would be agreed between parents and schools but would not have legal backing or independent appeal options.
- Current EHCPs offer legal rights and the ability to appeal decisions at independent tribunals.
- The reforms aim to reduce costs and slow the growth in EHCPs, which have created a large financial deficit for councils.
- Campaigners want to keep legal protections, parent appeal rights, and current assessment thresholds.
- The new education secretary, Lucy Powell, and Prime Minister Burnham may make only small changes instead of fully reversing the reforms.
- There has been a recent increase in applications for EHCPs as parents seek to secure protections before the new system begins.
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