Sweeping school reforms to be unveiled - but one mum says it's 'just what I was fearing'
#Education reforms #Disadvantage gap #SEND system #EHCP #Individual Support Plans #Bridget Phillipson #School funding #Special educational needs
📌 Key Takeaways
- Government plans to halve the disadvantage gap by end of secondary school
- Funding allocation to consider multiple factors beyond free school meal eligibility
- EHCPs to be replaced by Individual Support Plans from 2029
- Parents express concerns about continuity of support for children with special needs
📖 Full Retelling
UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is set to unveil sweeping education reforms on February 21, 2026, aimed at halving the disadvantage gap and significantly overhauling the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, with parents already expressing concerns about potential impacts on vulnerable students. The government's ambitious plans target reducing the attainment gap between poorer pupils and their more affluent peers by the time today's youngest students complete secondary school, while also introducing a new framework for supporting children with additional needs. Phillipson described the proposals as a 'golden opportunity to cut the link between background and success,' acknowledging that many children have been 'let down by a one-size-fits-all system.' The reforms will also address how disadvantage funding is allocated, potentially moving away from sole reliance on free school meal eligibility to consider factors like household income, duration of disadvantage, and geographic location. Additionally, the government aims to reduce lost school days by 20 million annually by 2028/29 and offer incentives of up to £15,000 for headteachers working in challenging recruitment areas. However, the most contentious aspect of the reforms involves changes to the SEND system, with leaked proposals suggesting that Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) would be reassessed at the end of primary school from 2029, to be replaced by new Individual Support Plans. This has triggered significant anxiety among families with children who have complex needs, with many fearing reduced access to specialist support and therapies.
🏷️ Themes
Education reform, Inequality, Special needs
📚 Related People & Topics
Special education in the United Kingdom
Education of children with disabilities
Special educational needs (SEN), also known as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England refers to the education of children who require different education provision to the mainstream system.
Education reform
Changing how people are taught, especially on a mass scale
Education reform is the goal of changing public education. The meaning and educational methods have changed through debates over what content or experiences result in an educated individual or an educated society. Historically, the motivations for reform have not reflected the current needs of socie...
Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for Special education in the United Kingdom:
View full profileOriginal Source
Sweeping school reforms to be unveiled - but one mum says it's 'just what I was fearing' Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has claimed that the reforms represent a significant shift in how opportunity is delivered through the school system. Some parents fear their children could be left behind. Anjum Peerbacos Education reporter Saturday 21 February 2026 22:56, UK 2:19 Share Why a £6bn black hole will change children's lives Why you can trust Sky News Sweeping education reforms aimed at halving the disadvantage gap are to be unveiled by the government, with the plans also expected to include significant changes to the special educational needs and disabilities system. Ministers will aim to close the attainment gap between poorer pupils and more affluent peers, with a long-term target to halve the disadvantage gap by the time today's youngest pupils reach the end of secondary school. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the proposals as a "golden opportunity to cut the link between background and success". "Our schools have made great strides in recent decades," she said. "Yet for too long, many children in our country have been let down by a one-size-fits-all system, denied opportunity because they're poor or because they have additional needs." The government's schools white paper - the policy document setting out its plans for future legislation - will also recommend changes to how disadvantage funding is allocated. Rather than relying primarily on free school meal eligibility, funding could instead consider factors such as household income levels, duration of disadvantage and geographic location. Ministers say this would reduce administrative burden on schools and ensure support reaches pupils who need it most, including those whose families do not formally claim free school meals. The government will also set a target to recover 20 million lost school days a year by 2028/29 compared with 2023/24 levels, alongside incentives of up to £15,000 to e...
Read full article at source