Church of England welcomes government plan to take a position in special needs provision in schools

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 additional spending on Monday, saying that each child with additional needs would profit from improved, more tailored support.

The announcement got here as they unveiled their schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, a blueprint for opportunity for all children, which incorporates “generational” reforms to the SEND system.

SEND applies to children and young individuals who need extra support to deal with 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 identical coin. These themes are at the guts of our Vision for Education and our core mission to enable the flourishing of each child.”

The Church said that the proposals reflected themes inside 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 largest single provider of colleges 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 transparent intention to deepen evidence-informed SEND/Inclusion expertise inside mainstream school settings and to extend investment in skilled 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 might want to protect children’s rights and provides confidence to oldsters. Increased expectations on mainstream schools ought to be matched by realistic provision for workers wellbeing, workload and training.

“The White Paper’s ambition to boost collaboration across the college 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 identical time, any changes to high school organisation have to be approached with coherence and sensitivity to local context, particularly for rural and small schools. Different areas would require differing types of support and timelines, and robust oversight and bespoke regional collaboration might be essential to be certain that such structures genuinely improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and preserve each school’s distinctive ethos and identity.”

Mr Wolfe said: “There is way here that has the potential to strengthen the system, though the complexity of implementation mustn’t be underestimated. Changes to SEND provision specifically will need time, wisdom and careful consideration by a big selection of stakeholders in the event that they are to succeed.

“We sit up for engaging thoughtfully with the consultation and dealing positively with others to assist make sure the proposals translate into long-lasting improvements for kids, families and communities.”

The Government’s investment features a latest Inclusive Mainstream Fund of £1.6 billion over three years, provided on to early years, schools and colleges, and a latest “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’ll go on to attain. That means good teachers and experts providing support where children need it, once they need it — of their local school, without families having to fight.

“These reforms are a watershed moment for a generation of young people and generations to return, and a significant milestone on this government’s mission to ensure opportunity is for each child.”

Sir Keir said: “Getting the suitable support should never be a battle — it ought to be a given. That means no more ‘one size matches 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 within the Church Times earlier this month (Comment, 13 February), Dr Naomi Fox, an occupational therapist and founding father of Growing Hope, warned: “The UK’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision is in crisis. Significant reforms have been widely acknowledged as obligatory, and a Government White Paper is anticipated imminently.

“The proposals which are being discussed, nevertheless, could remove existing legal protection for among the most vulnerable children. At a time of uncertainty for families, Christians have a possibility to step into the gap: to supply a welcome, practical support, advocacy, and hope, of their local communities.”