Committee publication · Correspondence · 20 May 2025
Letter from Minister for School Standards on SEND White Paper 27.03.25
From: Education Committee
Inquiry: Solving the SEND Crisis
Summary
Minister for School Standards Catherine McKinnell responds to the Education Committee's inquiry on SEND reform. She acknowledges poor outcomes for young people with SEND and confirms the government inherited a system that has lost parental and educator confidence. She states reform is urgent but requires proper consideration and engagement with families, and commits to setting out further thinking on SEND later in 2025.
Key findings
- Government acknowledges outcomes for young people with SEND are 'unacceptably poor' and the inherited system has lost confidence of parents, educators, and young people
- Minister clarifies that a Guardian article about SEND reform plans was 'speculative' and the government does not comment on such speculation
- Government is progressing reform through RISE teams, Curriculum and Assessment Review, and £740m capital investment announced in December
- Dame Christine Lenahan has been appointed as adviser and Tom Rees chairs an expert group on inclusive education, which has launched a survey on best practice
- Government commits to setting out further thinking on SEND system later in 2025 and to engage with the Committee
Tone
ProceduralTopics
education-policyspecial-educational-needsinclusive-educationcurriculum-reform
Key actors
Catherine McKinnell, Helen Hayes, Secretary of State, Dame Christine Lenahan, Tom Rees
Notable line
“… outcomes for young people with special educational needs and disabilities are unacceptably poor and we inherited from the last government a system which has lost the confidence of parents, educators, and young people themselves.”
Key Quotes
“… outcomes for young people with special educational needs and disabilities are unacceptably poor and we inherited from the last government a system which has lost the confidence of parents, educators, and young people themselves.”
“… the article in question was speculative and we do not comment on such speculation.”
“Putting right the support for children with special educational needs will take time, and it is important that we listen to children and young people, parents, teachers and those who work within the system.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗