Pippa Heylings addressed the crisis in special educational needs and disability support, particularly affecting children with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD. She highlighted the struggles faced by families and carers, professionals struggling within limited budgets, and the emotional impact on dedicated staff. The speech included personal testimonies from schools such as Bassingbourn primary school, detailing specific cases of children being excluded due to a lack of support during transitions. Heylings also discussed regional disparities in care provision and lengthy wait times for assessments, leading to 200,000 children struggling without the necessary education plans. She emphasised the need for early diagnosis, equitable funding across regions, and additional resources such as educational psychologists.