Birmingham MP and Former 'SEND Kid' Urges Families to Speak Out on Reforms
Birmingham Northfield MP Laurence Turner, who describes himself as a former 'SEND kid', has called on families across the city to make their voices heard regarding the government's controversial overhaul of special educational needs provision. The Labour MP spoke out as Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson unveiled sweeping reforms aimed at transforming the entire SEND system by 2035 through the new Schools White Paper.
Major System Overhaul Proposed
The government plans to introduce a new system of Individual Care Plans that would largely replace the current Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Under the proposed changes, only children with particularly severe or complex needs would receive EHCPs, while most others would move to the new tiered support system.
Turner, who was diagnosed with dyspraxia and other additional needs as a child, emphasized the importance of affected families participating in the consultation process. "I urge everyone with an interest in SEND to read and respond to the government's consultation," he stated in a column written specifically for BirminghamLive.
System Under Strain
The MP highlighted significant problems with the current system, noting that some children in his constituency are out of education or in dangerous situations because they cannot access support early enough. He revealed that parents are being forced to give up work due to lack of provision, while Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) are experiencing burnout.
"When people who are part of the system cannot navigate it, we need a new approach," Turner asserted, describing how teachers and social workers attending his constituency surgeries are battling for support for their own children.
Flaws in Current System
Turner acknowledged that the 2014 reforms had good intentions by uniting health and schooling entitlements under legally binding EHCPs, but he pointed to fundamental flaws that have become "brutally exposed." He noted that local authorities received sweeping new duties while their resources were being sharply cut back, with Birmingham City Council losing more than half its staff.
"Thousands of families in Birmingham are now locked into a confrontational and exhausting process that delays access to support," he explained. "It is cruel to tell families that they have rights that exist on paper but not in practice."
Proposed Changes and Protections
The new system would introduce three tiers of support under school-level Individual Support Plans (ISPs): Targeted, Targeted Plus, and Specialist levels. According to Turner, this should mean most pupils receive support faster than under the current system.
He emphasized that the reforms would be phased in gradually with protections for those who already have EHCPs. The MP also welcomed sensible efficiencies, such as limiting the cost of private school placements that are often of questionable value, which would help resources go further for everyone.
Specific Improvements Sought
Turner outlined several specific improvements he wants to see from the reforms, including better physical accommodations in schools like dimmer switches and noise insulation becoming standard in new buildings and renovations. He also called for clearer guidance on reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, noting that "sometimes, it can seem like the Equality Act and the duty to make reasonable adjustments do not apply in schools."
The MP stressed the need to recognize and value specialist provision, highlighting funding confirmed just before Christmas for the new Frankley Hill specialist school in his constituency. He also emphasized the importance of properly valuing teaching assistants and school support staff who spend most of their time supporting SEND learners.
Personal Connection to Issue
"SEND is an issue that is close to my heart. I was once one of those pupils," Turner shared. "I know the invisible limits that stigma, misunderstanding, and low expectations can bring. Without support, my life might have followed a very different path."
He concluded with a call to action: "We have both an opportunity and a duty to change the system for the better. We owe it to that next generation to try, and I believe that these changes will make life better for children and young people."
The consultation on the SEND reforms is now open, and Turner has urged all affected families to ensure their experiences are heard as part of this crucial national conversation about the future of special educational needs provision in England.
