What happened Labour is set to "face a fresh battle" with MPs and charities after the education secretary refused to guarantee millions of children the legal right to special educational needs, said The Telegraph. Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Bridget Phillipson "repeatedly refused to rule out scrapping education, health and care plans (EHCPs)". These are the "legally binding documents" that lay out the teaching requirements for children with additional needs.
Who said what Phillipson said no decision on EHCPs had been taken, but that the current system was "too adversarial", takes "too long" and is "too bureaucratic".
In a letter to The Guardian, more than 100 charities and campaigners said removing the care plans altogether was not the answer. "Without statutory support" it is "extremely unlikely that ministers will achieve their aim of more children with Send thriving, or even surviving, in mainstream education", they said.
What next? A white paper on the reforms is due to be published in October, when Keir Starmer may face a "backbench revolt", said The Times. Senior Labour insiders told the paper it could turn into "welfare mark two" as dozens of MPs prepare to rebel. One Labour MP told the paper: "If they thought taking money away from disabled adults was bad, watch what happens when they try the same with disabled kids." |