Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND Support: Access

Monday 19 January 2026 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rachel Blake raised concerns about accountability for families whose children are not receiving the support outlined in their EHCPs.
  • Darren Paffey questioned the long wait times for EHCPs and called for immediate improvements in joined-up working.
  • David Davis highlighted significant disparities in funding for children with special needs between his region and others, questioning how his constituents can receive adequate support with limited resources.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Blake Labour (Co-op) Cities of London and Westminster
Children & Families
Context

Families in Rachel Blake's constituency are concerned about accountability issues related to the provision of SEND support, specifically regarding the implementation of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Parents feel that their children's individual needs are not being adequately addressed.

Question

The families I am speaking to tell me they are concerned by a lack of accountability for parents and children when those children are not getting the support set out in their EHCP. What certainty can you give these families about what is coming forward on accountability, so that they have confidence their individual needs will be addressed through their EHCPs?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for all her work in making sure that the voices of parents and children are heard during the reform process. Through our national conversation on special educational needs and disabilities, I have heard directly from parents, educators, and experts across the country, who echo concerns about accountability. We take this issue extremely seriously and will set out more detail in the schools White Paper.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline or concrete measures for improving accountability

How: Under Review, Will Focus On

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Q2 Darren Paffey Lab Southampton Itchen
Children & Families
Context

Children with SEND in Darren Paffey's constituency are facing long delays in receiving an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Some children are out of education for months while waiting to be assessed. There is a lack of coordinated working between parents, schools, local authorities, and the NHS.

Question

Some of the children I have been supporting are spending months out of education and taking years still to get an EHCP, compounding their challenges. What can you do to ensure that families across the country will not have to wait until the end of the White Paper process for better joined-up working?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

I agree strongly with my hon. Friend, and I am grateful for all the work he has done in this area. We need change now and have taken action by restructuring the Department to put SEND at its heart, investing billions in special needs places and mainstream settings, and improving programmes to support teachers through a £200 million investment. Early support and intervention are critical, which is why we will ensure there is a SEND professional in every Best Start family hub as they roll out.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific immediate measures for improving coordination between services

How: Working On, Need To See Change Now

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Q3 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Children & Families
Context

Children with SEND in the East Riding of Yorkshire are receiving significantly less funding per capita compared to more affluent areas like Camden. The Government's grant proposals increase funding for both regions, but the disparity remains.

Question

Last year, children with special needs in my region were funded at £1,000 per head—the lowest level in England—while Camden received £3,565 a head. How does the Secretary of State expect East Yorkshire to provide early access or anything else when funding is so tight?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

The right hon. Gentleman makes an understandable appeal on behalf of his constituency. We are looking carefully at funding questions, which are not easy. Many previous ways of allocating funding continue because of necessary timescales around that. However, his constituents will benefit from our big investment in capital and extra training and support for all teachers, early years professionals, and college staff.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific measures to address funding disparity

How: Under Review, Need Careful Consideration

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Q4 Zöe Franklin Lib Dem Guildford
Education Children & Families
Context

Schools in Guildford are concerned about the availability of resources and appropriate placements once a child has been identified as having special educational needs or disabilities.

Question

In my constituency, schools highlight not necessarily an issue with early identification but lack of resources and places for students after they have been identified. How will your approach to early access ensure that early identification is matched by suitable provision?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

I have had many conversations with school leaders about this issue. The hon. Lady is right; early identification and access are not always the same thing. Early access includes support beyond the school gate, such as speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. These points are central to our thinking in respect of reforms we intend to introduce through the schools White Paper.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific measures for ensuring suitable provision after identification

How: Under Review, Need To See

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