England's SEND system requires comprehensive reform with £4bn investment to ensure children with special needs receive proper support
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/bridget-philipson. "Children with special educational needs have been let down again and again. That ends right now | Bridget Phillipson | The Guardian." February 23, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
England's system for helping children with special educational needs is broken and failing kids. The government plans to fix this with £4 billion in funding plus major changes to how schools work, ensuring every child gets the support they need in regular classrooms rather than being stuck in bureaucratic processes.
Conclusion
The current special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England must be fundamentally reformed through significant investment and structural changes to properly serve children with special needs
Premises
- There has been exponential growth in children with special educational needs and disabilities over the past decade
- The current system has failed to adapt to this growth, creating a mismatch between needs and provision
- A generation of young people is emerging without the foundations they need for life and work
- Quality SEND support is currently hidden behind layers of conflict and bureaucracy, only available to those with EHCPs
- The government has committed £4bn in new investment plus structural reforms including teacher training requirements and inclusion accountability measures
- Money alone cannot fix the system - it requires both investment and comprehensive reform
- Extensive engagement with parents and campaign groups has shaped these reform proposals
Assumptions
- Government investment and policy changes can effectively transform educational outcomes
- Mainstream schools can be successfully equipped to handle diverse special needs with proper resources
- The current bureaucratic barriers are the primary obstacle to effective SEND support
- Inclusive education where SEND children learn alongside peers is beneficial for all students
- Past government failures can be remedied through this comprehensive approach