We welcome the Government’s commitment to reforming the SEND system and investing in children’s education. For families we support across London, reform cannot come soon enough.

The families supported by LDN London’s Family Service were involved in the consultation for this white paper. They shared that what they need most is early intervention, easier access to support for their children, and more support for themselves as families. We are pleased to see that some of these points have been focused on by the government, including attention on early support through Best Start Family Hubs.

LDN London has been supporting families with SEND for over 60 years and we know that the current assessment process can be extremely challenging. Each year, we support hundreds of families who have been financially and emotionally devastated by the struggle to secure the support their children need. The prospect of having to go through this process more than once, and any reassessment of children’s EHCPs, will understandably cause anxiety for many.

We hope further consultation will focus on making the system simpler, clearer and genuinely accessible for families and young people. Transitions between schools, and after secondary school, can be particularly stressful for young people and families. We urge the government to make sure that families are fully supported during these vital moments and not burdened with the financial and emotional strain of needing to fight for the support their children are entitled to.

We would also like to reassure families in London that our Family Service will continue to support them throughout this transition period. We are committed to co-producing our services with families and local authorities to ensure they meet the needs of those we support in this changing landscape.