Closed petition Retain legal right to assessment and support in education for children with SEND
Support in education is a vital legal right of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We ask the government to commit to maintaining the existing law, so that vulnerable children with SEND can access education and achieve their potential.
More details
It has been reported that the government is considering making changes to The Children and Families Act 2014, which sets out the legal rights to assessment and statutory support in education for disabled children. We believe that these rights do not only help vulnerable children and their families - they also reduce costs to the state in adulthood. We think that removing statutory obligations on local authorities could mean many children do not get the support they need to reach their potential.
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
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Parliament debated this topic
Government responded
This response was given on 5 August 2025
There will always be a legal right to additional support for children with SEND. No decisions have been made on changes to legislation. We are engaging with families on improvements to SEND provision.
Read the response in full
As part of our Plan for Change, we are determined to improve the system of support for children with SEND and their families. We are working to restore families’ trust by ensuring early years, schools and post-16 settings have the tools to better identify and meet need earlier and ensure more children and young people can receive their education in inclusive mainstream settings with their peers.
We are committed to:
• ensuring a legal right to additional support for children and young people with SEND;
• ensuring all children and young people have the support they need to achieve and thrive;
• improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring swift access to special schools for children and young people with the most complex needs; and
• restoring confidence in the system of support for children and young people with SEND so that they all get the chance to achieve and thrive in their education.
Any changes we make will improve support for families, stop parents from having to fight for support, and protect effective support currently in place.
Details of the government's intended approach to strengthening the SEND system will be set out in a Schools White Paper in the autumn.
As part of developing our approach, we are working with parents and young people, organisations which represent parents, local authorities, SEND organisations and education settings across the country, as well as sector experts.
We share the widespread view that improvements to the SEND system are badly needed. The forthcoming consultation on the White Paper will be key to shaping the reforms to the SEND system, so that every child and young person can achieve and thrive and we continue to break down barriers to opportunity.
Department for Education
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/711021)
Related activity
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Petitions Committee requests a revised response from the Government
The Petitions Committee (the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system) has considered the Government’s response to this petition. They felt the response did not respond directly to the request of the petition. They have therefore asked the Government to provide a revised response.
When the Committee receives a revised response from the Government, we will publish this and share it with you.
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Original Government response
As part of our Plan for Change, we will restore families’ confidence and ensure that children with SEND will get the tailored support they need to achieve and thrive.
Government’s ambition is that all children and young people with SEND or in alternative provision receive the right, tailored support to achieve and thrive in their education and as they move into adult life.
We are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in early years and mainstream settings, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children with the most complex needs. Any changes we make to the system will improve support for children and parents, stop parents from having to fight for support, and protect provision currently in place.
We will strengthen accountability and inclusivity through Ofsted, support the mainstream workforce to increase their SEND expertise, and encourage schools to set up Resourced Provision or SEN units to increase capacity in mainstream schools.
The Department is working closely with experts in convening and engaging with the sector, including leaders, practitioners, children and families on how we can deliver the better system our children need and deserve.
We have also established an expert advisory group for inclusion to improve the mainstream education outcomes and experiences for those with SEND, and a Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group to provide a shared understanding of what provision and support in mainstream educational settings should look like for neurodivergent children and young people within an inclusive system.
This work forms part of the government’s Opportunity Mission, which will break the unfair link between background and opportunity – starting with giving every child, including those with SEND, the best start in life.
We will work with the sector as essential and valued partners to deliver our shared mission and restore parents’ trust.
Department for Education
This response was given on 4 June 2025. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.