UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – British PM Sir Keir Starmer says special educational needs are raised more than any other issue, urging careful reform and parental consultation.
As reported by The Independent, Sir Keir Starmer said special educational needs (SEND) are likely the issue raised with him more than any other.
Speaking at a Reading school breakfast club, the prime minister said the government must get reforms right and consult parents carefully.
What did Keir Starmer say about special educational needs reform?
Sir Keir Starmer said,
“I think, uniformly, there’s a sense that the system at the moment isn’t working and needs reform. I think, uniformly, there’s a sense that the system at the moment isn’t working and needs reform.”
The Labour leader added,
“It’s probably the issue that gets raised with me across the House of Commons more than any other issue, which tells me it absolutely must be addressed.”
The prime minister and education secretary Bridget Phillipson visited a breakfast club at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Reading, as the government announced that 500 new free breakfast clubs are now open for applications.
Mr Starmer said,
“These breakfast clubs are a real game-changer. They’re free and you saw this morning how much the children enjoy them. They’re getting a decent meal, and they’re getting activity, and that sets them up for the day.”
He added,
“It gives them a much better chance in terms of learning, and for parents, it gives them a chance to drop their children off, get to work, if that’s what they’re doing, and saves them a few hundred pounds.”
The prime minister continued,
“When the cost of living is the number one issue across the country, these breakfast clubs are really making a difference.”
What did Bridget Phillipson say about tackling school suspensions and exclusions?
During a visit to a school breakfast club, Bridget Phillipson faced questions from reporters about measures to tackle suspensions and exclusions in schools.
She said,
“We’re working with schools around issues like behaviour. We know that lots of schools report big challenges. That’s why we’ve launched new attendance and behaviour hubs.”
The education secretary added,
“Schools have my full support in making sure the environments that they operate are safe, welcoming, and sadly, there will sometimes be occasions where schools do have to take that decision, if children are behaving in a way that jeopardises the safety of other students.”
How many pupils with SEND were suspended in the latest DfE figures?
The latest figures from the Department for Education, published on Thursday, showed a drop in suspension and exclusion rates across all pupils, yet an increase for those with SEND.
The suspension rate for students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) climbed to 10.31 per 100 in the 2024/25 autumn term.
The recent data showed that suspensions for pupils receiving SEND support increased to 11.09.
The overall suspension rate declined to 4.02 from 4.13 in autumn 2023/24, while the total exclusion rate fell slightly from 0.05 to 0.04, though both remain above pre-pandemic levels.
The Government will now release the Schools White Paper, including planned SEND reforms, in 2026, delaying its originally expected autumn publication.
According to the education secretary, the Government delayed the release to consult families, teachers, and experts on the proposed reforms.
Where have breakfast club initiatives been adopted in schools?
Several nations have adopted the “breakfast club” initiatives in schools, focusing on providing free or healthy breakfasts to students.
- United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland): Introduced a pilot program for 750 schools in England offering free breakfast clubs, with further expansion planned.
- France: Recently introduced a project to give free breakfasts to schoolchildren to improve concentration and academic performance.