Committee publication · Correspondence · 6 January 2026
Correspondence with the Royal British Legion on Solving the SEND Crisis, dated 8.12.25 and 18.12.25
From: Education Committee
Inquiry: Solving the SEND Crisis
Summary
The Royal British Legion writes to the Education Committee expressing concern that the Committee's September 2025 SEND crisis report omitted specific focus on Service children with special educational needs, despite the Legion's earlier written evidence highlighting unique challenges faced by Armed Forces families. The Committee Chair responds acknowledging the Legion's points and proposing further discussion to ensure Armed Forces family needs receive targeted attention in future work.
Key findings
- Royal British Legion submitted written evidence in early 2025 detailing concerns about SEND provision for Service children, particularly around mobility and continuity of support challenges specific to Armed Forces families.
- Legion recommendations include: coordinated data collection on Service children with SEND; joint DfE/MOD/Devolved Government protocols for consistent support across local authority and country moves; specialist training on Armed Forces Covenant Duty; integration of Service children's needs into strategic policy development; additional dedicated funding for Service children with SEND.
- Committee received over 800 pieces of written evidence during the SEND inquiry; the final report focused on systemic issues affecting SEND provision broadly rather than Service children specifically.
- Committee Chair acknowledges the Legion's concerns as 'significant and thoughtful' and recognises the unique circumstances of Armed Forces families, particularly mobility impacts and need for support continuity.
- Chair proposes meeting to discuss the matter further and explore how the Committee can ensure Armed Forces family voices and needs are reflected in future work.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Royal British Legion, Helen Hayes MP, Hannah Pearce, Education Select Committee, Department for Education, Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces families
Notable line
“The Committee fully recognises the unique circumstances faced by Armed Forces families, particularly the impact of mobility and the need for continuity of support for children with SEND.”
Key Quotes
“We were therefore disappointed that within the Education Committee's Report the needs of Armed Forces families in relation to SEND provision are not mentioned …”
“The Committee fully recognises the unique circumstances faced by Armed Forces families, particularly the impact of mobility and the need for continuity of support for children with SEND.”
“While the Committee's recent report focused on systemic issues affecting SEND provision more broadly, we acknowledge that the needs of Service children deserve specific attention.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗