Children with special needs will ‘always’ have ‘legal right’ to support, education secretary says

Jul 8, 2025

Children with special needs will ‘always’ have ‘legal right’ to support, education secretary says

Bridget Phillipson seeks to dampen a looming row over whether the government could scrap tailored plans for children with special needs – as some Labour MPs fear a repeat of the welfare row.

The education secretary has said children with special needs will “always” have a legal right to additional support as she sought to quell a looming row over potential cuts.

The government is facing a potential repeat of the debacle over welfare reform due to suggestions it could scrap tailored plans for children and young people with special needs in the classroom.

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Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Bridget Phillipson failed to rule out abolishing education, health and care plans (EHCPs) – legally-binding plans to ensure children and young people receive bespoke support in either mainstream or specialist schools.

Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said parents’ anxiety was “through the roof” following reports over the weekend that EHCPs could be scrapped.

Read more….https://news.sky.com/story/flatplan-13393728

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