{"id":24363,"date":"2026-02-23T11:25:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T11:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=24363"},"modified":"2026-02-23T11:25:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T11:25:17","slug":"teaching-union-claims-extra-4bn-for-send-overhaul-just-drop-in-bucket-compared-with-whats-needed-uk-politics-live-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=24363","title":{"rendered":"Teaching union claims extra \u00a34bn for Send overhaul just \u2018drop in bucket\u2019 compared with what\u2019s needed \u2013 UK politics live | Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Teaching unions dismiss \u00a34bn pledged for Send overhaul as ‘drop in bucket’<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

Good morning. Of all the government U-turns<\/a> performed by Labour so far, it is arguable that the most serious was the decision to shelve plans to restrict some disability welfare payments. The U-turn left a \u00a35bn hole in the government finances, but the controversy also massively damaged the government\u2019s relations with disabled people and those who care about them, as well as raising doubts about whether it would ever have the ability to implement welfare-related reforms that might be unpopular with Labour MPs nervous about cost cutting.<\/p>\n

The government is not to going to return to the issue of overhauling the personal independence payment (Pip) until the end of a long review promised as part of the welfare benefits U-turn. But it is committed to reforming special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision in schools in England and, for ministers, this has been seen as the next potential flashpoint. Because the plans are driven in part by the need to contain soaring costs, parents fear they may lose out, and so the risk of a Labour<\/a> rebellion has been a considerable.<\/p>\n

This explainer by Patrick Butler<\/strong> sets out why change is needed.<\/p>\n

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And, as Jessica Elgot<\/strong> explains in our overnight splash, although the full details are being published today, the government has already said quite a lot about what the plans will involve \u2013 and announced a \u00a34bn investment over three years.<\/p>\n

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So far, Bridget Phillipson<\/strong>, the education secretary, seems to have done a good job at keeping Labour MPs onside. When Liz Kendall announced the Pip reforms last year, there were immediate objections from the PLP. As Jess reports, that has not happened this time.<\/p>\n

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double quotation mark<\/title><\/svg>The long-delayed proposals to transform Send in schools in England have resulted in a major listening drive led by Phillipson to try to smooth their landing with parents, and with MPs, many of whom had previously said they were prepared to rebel on the proposals.<\/p>\n

MPs who had been wary of the reforms told the Guardian they were privately optimistic that concerns had been heard and the vast majority of cases, especially poorer children, would receive improved provision, though they cautioned that detail may yet emerge in the full white paper to throw that into doubt.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But it is only today that we have learned how much extra money the government is going to invest in Send, and already the debate has started as to whether \u00a34bn over three years is or isn\u2019t a lot of money.<\/p>\n

Luke Sibieta from the Institute for Fiscal Studies<\/strong> thinktank, said this funding increase was a \u201creasonably significant change\u201d, the BBC reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But Matt Wrack, general secretary of the NASUWT<\/strong> teaching union, said:<\/p>\n

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double quotation mark<\/title><\/svg>While increased early support for Send is welcome, years of underfunding and diminished external services mean that this new funding is barely a drop in the bucket of the investment necessary<\/a> to drive real improvement in schools.<\/p>\n

\u00a31.6bn over three years may sound like a lot of money, but it equates to just a few thousand pounds per setting. It is absolutely ridiculous to suggest that Send provision can be adequately overhauled with this low level of funding, or that the associated workloads for teachers could be in any way offset by throwing a bit of money in their general direction.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As Jess reports in the Guardian story<\/a>, \u201cthe funding is likely to be the equivalent of about \u00a320,000-\u00a340,000 a year for primary schools and about \u00a350,000-\u00a370,000 for secondary schools\u201d.<\/p>\n

Here is the agenda for the day.<\/p>\n

10.30am:<\/em> Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, gives a speech in Peterborough on her Send reforms and her schools white paper.<\/p>\n

Morning:<\/em> Keir Starmer is hosting a round table event relating to the Send reforms.<\/p>\n

11am:<\/em> The Department for Education is expected to publish the schools white paper.<\/p>\n

Morning:<\/em> Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in London, promoting the Conservative party\u2019s New Deal for Young People plans.<\/a> She will also be interviewed on Radio 2\u2019s Jeremy Vine show.<\/p>\n

11am:<\/em> Zia Yusuf, Reform UK\u2019s home affairs spokesperson, gives a speech in Dover on his plans to cut immigration and fight crime.<\/a><\/p>\n

2.30pm:<\/em> Steve Reed, the housing secretary, takes questions in the Commons.<\/p>\n

3.30pm:<\/em> Ministers are expected to respond to urgent questions. The speaker will decide what UQs to grant but, with the Commons sitting for the first time since a one-week recess, there could be UQs or ministerial statements on various topics including the Chagos Islands, Iran, Donald Trump\u2019s tariffs and the royal line of succession.<\/p>\n

Afternoon:<\/em> Phillipson will make a statement to MPs about the Send reforms after the UQs.<\/p>\n

If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.<\/p>\n

If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X<\/a>, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.<\/p>\n

I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.<\/p>\n