Ministers lay out plans to reduce gap between poorest and most affluent pupils - UK politics live

The Guardian - World NewsEN 13 min read 100% complete by Yohannes LoweFebruary 22, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Ministers lay out plans to reduce gap between poorest and most affluent pupils - UK politics live

AI Summary

long article 13 min

The UK government plans to overhaul the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England, aiming to reduce the gap between the poorest and most affluent pupils. The reforms, to be unveiled in a schools white paper, will raise the bar for children qualifying for an education, health and care plan (EHCP), reserving them for those with the most severe needs. Children on lower tiers will still receive additional support and legal rights, with parents retaining avenues for appeals. The government anticipates potential opposition from Labour MPs, despite lobbying efforts, over concerns that the changes could negatively impact children currently receiving support. The proposed legislation could lead to reassessments of children with EHCPs to determine if their needs can be met through more flexible means.

Keywords

special educational needs 90% education, health and care plan 80% send system overhaul 80% ehcp 70% school reforms 60% education secretary 60% labour mps 50% legal rights 50% funding mechanisms 40%

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Source
The Guardian - World News
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
England

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