A minister dodged a series of questions over reforms to special education for children as Sir Keir Starmer faced the threat of a new major revolt by Labour MPs.
Education minister Stephen Morgan declined to say if pupils currently getting special educational needs support would continue to get the same level under planned changes, whether the reforms aimed to cut costs, or if legally-binding documents for parents to get SEND provision for their children would remain.
Mr Morgan insisted parents should have “absolutely” no fear that support for children with special needs or disabilities (SEND) will be scaled back under the plans for more pupils to get this type of provision in mainstream rather than specialist schools.
But he could not guarantee that the current system of legally-binding education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which are issued to give children specialist classroom support, would remain in place.
In a letter shared with the Guardian newspaper, campaigners have said that without the documents in mainstream schools, “many thousands of children risk being denied vital provision, or losing access to education altogether”.
MPs have warned ministers have not been clear about their plans, and could face a rebellion akin to last week’s welfare Bill revolt which forced the Government to largely abandon its benefit reforms.
On Monday, Mr Morgan told broadcaster LBC the current system of support is “failing children, it’s failing parents” and that the reforms aimed to improve “outcomes for children with additional needs”.
But pressed whether the reforms could include scrapping ECHPs, Mr Morgan replied: “We’re looking at all things in the round.
“I’m not going to get into the mechanics today, but this is about strengthening support for system.”
Asked earlier on Times Radio if the reforms would cut costs, he did not answer the question, stressing: “We’ve actually put more money into the SEND system, the £1 billion for high needs announced last year.”
He also would not guarantee that every child would keep their current provisions.
“We absolutely want to make sure that we deliver better support for vulnerable children and their parents and we’re committed to absolutely getting that right,” he said.
On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson would similarly not be drawn on whether the EHCPs plans will be retained.
Requests for Send support have risen year-on-year.
In total, there were 638,745 EHCPs in place in January 2025, up 10.8% on the same point last year.
The number of new plans which started during 2024 also grew by 15.8% on the previous year, to 97,747.
Requests for children to be assessed for EHCPs rose by 11.8% to 154,489 in 2024.
In the letter to the Guardian, campaigners including the heads of charities, professors, SEND parents including actor Sally Phillips, and campaigners including broadcaster Chris Packham warned against scrapping ECHPs as part of any overhaul of support.
“Whatever the Send system’s problems, the answer is not to remove the rights of children and young people,” they said.
