Children and Families Bill SEN reforms branded a ‘lost opportunity'

The Children and Families Bill includes legislation to overhaul support for children with SEN, as well as proposals to reform the adoption and family justice systems and reinforce the role of the Children's Commissioner.

But Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) campaigners believe the plans will fail to establish a joined-up system across education, health and social care, because they exclude disabled children who do not have educational needs from receiving integrated support.

Laura Courtney, EDCM campaign manager, described the plans as “deeply disappointing” and a “lost opportunity”.

“We cannot understand why the government is so set on excluding the disabled children who do not have SEN, but need health and care support, from the system proposed in the draft bill,” she said.?

“These children will be accessing the same services within health and social care, commissioned through the same processes as those with SEN. We are concerned that if commissioners are required to consider their needs separately, a two-tier system of support will be created, in which disabled children without SEN risk being marginalised and given a lower priority.

“We will be calling on MPs and peers who are supportive of disabled children to ask the government to amend the bill as it goes through Parliament.”

But children’s minister Edward Timpson argued that the bill would help improve the lives of the most vulnerable children across the country.

“I am determined that every young person should be able to fulfil their potential regardless of their background,” he said.

“For this to happen we must tackle the disadvantages faced by our most vulnerable children and families. Our measures in the Children and Families Bill do just that.

“In this bill we will overhaul adoption – breaking down barriers for adopters and provide more support to children. We will reform family justice – tackling appalling delays and focusing on the needs of the child. And we will improve services for vulnerable young people – transforming the SEN system and better protecting children's rights.”

The bill includes reforms to:

• Overhaul SEN support

• Speed-up adoption

• Reduce delays in the family justice system

• Create new childminder agencies

• Strengthen the role of the children's commissioner

• Require every council to have a virtual school head for looked-after children

• Improve access to shared parental leave from work and flexible working