Teachers and mainstream schools in England face a significant workload challenge as they prepare to implement the government’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, according to education leaders and Members of Parliament. The plans, unveiled by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, will require schools to assess pupils with special needs and create individual support plans (ISPs) for hundreds of thousands of children before the changes take full effect in 2029-30.
The new SEND reforms aim to extend support to many of the 1.3 million children in state schools identified as having special needs but who currently lack education, health and care plans (EHCPs) required for individualized support. The Department for Education announced £3.6 billion in funding over three years to support the implementation.
Concerns Over Workload and Resources for SEND Support
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, acknowledged the necessity of the reforms but warned they constitute “a huge ask on mainstream schools.” According to Di’Iasio, the government must consider the workload and mental health impact on leaders and teachers, noting that the education workforce already faces sky-high levels of stress and anxiety.
The funding package includes £1.6 billion over three years for schools and colleges to provide extra support, £1.8 billion for local authorities to hire specialists, and £200 million for additional teacher training. However, union leaders suggest this may be insufficient for the scale of the task.
Daniel Kebede, leader of the National Education Union, said the inclusion grant amounts to only a part-time teaching assistant for the average primary school and two teaching assistants for average secondary schools. Additionally, Labour backbencher Ian Lavery emphasized the need for adequate finance in the system to ensure schools can properly support children in their care.
Accountability Concerns and Parent Rights
MPs have expressed particular concern about accountability mechanisms within the special educational needs system. Jen Craft, a Labour MP with a child with special educational needs, welcomed the overall direction but questioned how parents would enforce their children’s rights to support.
Under the new system, parents can complain to schools and the government if individual support plans are not being met, but they cannot appeal to the existing SEND tribunal. Meanwhile, the white paper mentions greater accountability for NHS bodies in providing SEND care but does not clarify enforcement mechanisms.
Several MPs are also worried about children transitioning between educational stages, particularly those who currently hold EHCPs but may lose them at future reviews. According to one former minister, constituents have expressed concern that the reforms might be an attempt to reduce existing support.
Implementation Timeline and Financial Outlook
The government will create national inclusion standards to address regional differences in support delivery. However, the implementation timeline is lengthy, with ministers not planning to pass necessary legislation until 2028.
Luke Sibieta, a research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the government is not planning to save money during this spending review period and has added £3.5 billion in funding for 2028-29. In contrast, any future savings would come from increased mainstream provision reducing the need for more costly later interventions.
Ministers have identified the extended timeline as an opportunity to address concerns raised during the consultation process before facing a parliamentary vote. The government aims to refine the details and build trust among parents and education professionals before full implementation in 2029-30.
