Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 March 2026
Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Education, relating to the Schools White Paper and SEND Consultation
Summary
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson informs the Work and Pensions Committee of two major government publications: the Schools White Paper 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving' and the SEND Consultation 'Putting Children and Young People First'. The letter outlines reforms targeting three key shifts in education—broadening curriculum, ensuring inclusion alongside high standards, and rebuilding family-school engagement—alongside £1.8 billion for 'Experts at Hand' professional services and £1.6 billion for an Inclusive Mainstream Fund to support children with SEND.
Key findings
- Government commits to wrapping 'adaptable and responsive services' around children and families to address barriers, building on existing family hubs and early intervention programmes.
- Long-term aspiration to halve the disadvantage gap and improve attainment by end of Key Stage 4 when the current generation completes secondary school.
- SEND reforms include £1.8 billion over three years for 'Experts at Hand'—local services providing timely access to speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, and other professionals.
- £1.6 billion Inclusive Mainstream Fund over three years to support mainstream schools in delivering targeted interventions and implementing National Inclusion Standards.
- £3.7 billion capital investment already announced to create 60,000 SEND school places by 2029/30, including inclusion bases in every secondary school; SEND consultation opened 23 February for 12 weeks.
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Bridget Phillipson, Debbie Abrahams MP, Department for Education, Work and Pensions Committee
Notable line
“… inclusion and high standards are two sides of the same coin. Every Child Achieving and Thriving builds on progress the government has already made …”
Key Quotes
“… inclusion and high standards are two sides of the same coin.”
“We will take children's experience of education from narrow to broad , ensuring schools provide children with a rich education.”
“Your Committee has consistently highlighted the connections between disability, poverty and long-term outcomes, including the impact that delays in assessment and support have on families' economic stability and parents' ability to remain in work.”
“We will improve access to timely professional input through our new Experts at Hand offer – a local service in every area which will make access to education and health professionals, such as speech and language therapists or educational psychologists, readily available to schools …”
“This is an ambitious vision that we recognise will take collaboration, sustained and determined action over time.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗