The SEND Reform Challenge: A Call for Compassionate Realism

As Cabinet Member for Children's Services, SEND, Education and Skills at Wiltshire Council, I read today's reports about potential Labour MP rebellion over SEND reforms with both understanding and deep concern.

I understand why MPs are concerned. Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) sound like the gold standard to parents fighting for their children. They appear to offer legal protection and guaranteed support. But here's the uncomfortable truth from someone managing SEND services daily: EHCPs often promise more than they deliver, whilst creating unsustainable financial pressures that ultimately harm the very children we're trying to help.

The Reality Behind the Statistics

Wiltshire, like councils across the country, faces a massive High Needs Block deficit. We're part of a national crisis that has seen SEND costs spiral by 140% since 2015, creating a £4 billion black hole with no clear path to resolution.

But here's what many don't understand: in most cases, schools and local authorities are already providing the support an EHCP outlines before it's even awarded. The EHCP doesn't magically create new resources or expertise - it often just formalises what's already happening. Parents go through months of stress and bureaucracy, only to find little practical change once the plan arrives. Meanwhile, the system becomes more expensive and complex to manage.

The False Promise Problem

EHCPs have become a false promise to families. They suggest a level of personalised, legally-protected support that sounds comprehensive but often doesn't translate into meaningfully different outcomes for children. This isn't because professionals don't care - it's because the fundamental issue is resource constraints, not legal frameworks.

When we spend months processing EHCP applications and reviews, that's time and money not going directly to supporting children in classrooms. When we're tied up in tribunals defending decisions, those are resources diverted from frontline services.

Why Reform Matters More Than Opposition

I understand MPs' concerns about appearing to "cut support" for vulnerable children. But blocking reform without offering alternative solutions isn't protecting these children - it's condemning them to a system that's failing them financially and practically.

The current trajectory is unsustainable. In a few years, the system will collapse under its own weight, leaving everyone worse off. We need the courage to ask difficult questions:

• How do we ensure genuine additional support rather than expensive bureaucracy?
• How do we create accountability without creating undeliverable legal obligations?
• How do we prioritize early intervention over crisis management?
• How do we make the system financially sustainable while improving outcomes?

A Call for Constructive Challenge

To Labour MPs considering rebellion: I urge you to engage constructively rather than just oppose. If you believe EHCPs must remain unchanged, please tell us how you'll solve the £4 billion deficit. If you oppose reforms, offer alternative solutions that are both compassionate and financially viable.

Your constituents deserve more than good intentions. They deserve a system that actually works.

We need to be radical in change, compassionate in delivery, and realistic about cost. That means being willing to challenge assumptions about what works, even when those assumptions feel politically safe.

The Path Forward

Real support for SEND children requires:

• Sustainable funding from central government that matches legal obligations
• Early intervention that prevents crises rather than managing them
• Mainstream inclusion that actually works, with proper training and resources
• Honest conversations about what we can realistically deliver

The children and families we serve need us to have the courage to reform a broken system, not just defend its current form. They need solutions, not political positioning.

The status quo isn't working. Blocking change without offering alternatives isn't compassionate - it's short-sighted.

We owe these young people and their families better. Let's work together to build it.