THE Church of England has welcomed announcements by the Government ahead of the Schools White Paper and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) consultation, including a £4 billion investment, saying that the themes chimed with the Church’s “core mission” and vision.
The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, and the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, announced the extra spending on Monday, saying that every child with additional needs would benefit from improved, more tailored support.
The announcement came as they unveiled their schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, a blueprint for opportunity for all children in England, which includes “generational” reforms to the SEND system.
SEND applies to children and young people who need extra support to address physical, communication, social, emotional or mental-health needs.
Andy Wolfe, the Interim Chief Education Officer of the Church of England, said: “We welcome the Schools White Paper’s long-term, child-focused approach and its emphasis on improving inclusion and standards as two sides of the same coin. These themes are at the heart of our Vision for Education and our core mission to enable the flourishing of every child.”
The Church said that the proposals reflected themes within its recent Class of 2040 work in partnership with the Catholic Education Service and Confederation of School Trusts, and its own wider Vision for Education.
The Church of England is the biggest single provider of schools in England, and, through the National Society, has committed to engaging with the consultation process and examining the proposals.
Its press release said: “There is a clear intention to deepen evidence-informed SEND/Inclusion expertise within mainstream school settings and to increase investment in professional development for leaders and teachers. It also highlights the importance of a careful and phased approach to reform.
“Any changes to the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) system will need to protect children’s rights and give confidence to parents. Increased expectations on mainstream schools should be matched by realistic provision for staff wellbeing, workload and training.
“The White Paper’s ambition to enhance collaboration across the school system aligns with the Church’s experience that well-led, vision-driven school trusts can enable children and adults to flourish together. A broader curriculum and wider enrichment opportunities are similarly positive indicators of a rounded educational vision.”
It concluded: “At the same time, any changes to school organisation must be approached with coherence and sensitivity to local context, particularly for rural and small schools. Different areas will require differing forms of support and timelines, and robust oversight and bespoke regional collaboration will be essential to ensure that such structures genuinely improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and preserve each school’s distinctive ethos and identity.”
Mr Wolfe said: “There is much here that has the potential to strengthen the system, though the complexity of implementation should not be underestimated. Changes to SEND provision in particular will need time, wisdom and careful consideration by a wide range of stakeholders if they are to succeed.
“We look forward to engaging thoughtfully with the consultation and working positively with others to help ensure the proposals translate into long-lasting improvements for children, families and communities.”
The Government’s investment includes a new Inclusive Mainstream Fund of £1.6 billion over three years, provided directly to early years, schools and colleges, and a new “Experts at Hand” service, investing £1.8 billion over three years to create a bank of specialists like SEND teachers and a speech and language therapist in every local area.
Ms Phillipson said: “Children with SEND deserve a system that lifts them up, and that puts no limit on what they can go on to achieve. That means brilliant teachers and experts providing support where children need it, when they need it — in their local school, without families having to fight.
“These reforms are a watershed moment for a generation of young people and generations to come, and a major milestone in this government’s mission to make sure opportunity is for each and every child.”
Sir Keir said: “Getting the right support should never be a battle — it should be a given. That means no more ‘one size fits all’ system that only serves children who fit the mould. Instead, families will get tailored support built around their child’s individual needs, available on their doorstep.”
Writing in the Church Times earlier this month (Comment, 13 February), Dr Naomi Fox, an occupational therapist and founder of Growing Hope, warned: “The UK’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision is in crisis. Significant reforms have been widely acknowledged as necessary, and a Government White Paper is expected imminently.
“The proposals that are being discussed, however, could remove existing legal protection for some of the most vulnerable children. At a time of uncertainty for families, Christians have an opportunity to step into the gap: to offer a welcome, practical support, advocacy, and hope, in their local communities.”
