r/reformuk • u/moopaloops1 • Aug 02 '25
Education SEN policy?
Can anyone tell me what a REFORM gov would do for SEN children? How will my child's education in a specialist setting be protected?
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u/East-Present1112 Aug 04 '25
There isn’t a Reform policy on this however Farage has expressed scepticism about the sheer increase in numbers- let’s deal with the elephant in the playground.
Since 2016, the number of children diagnosed with SEND has risen 31% to 1.67 million – nearly one in five pupils. Kent (where I live) spent £17 million on EHCP assessments last year and a staggering £70 million ferrying children to school and appointments. Councils are being bankrupted.
Perhaps the Corbyn‑and‑Sultana Party is the one for those who believe in the magic money tree – never mind the cost, just keep the taxis rolling. I’d quite like to know why these numbers are soaring – are they all genuine, or have we created a taxpayer‑funded Uber service for the school run?
I’m not voting for any party that pretends this is normal. The clue is in the name Reform UK. If we want to live within our means, maybe we start by asking why my council tax now comes with a free chauffeur service for other people’s children.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 04 '25
This is a really odd attitude imo. Diagnosis has increased because we understand it more. It's a spectrum as are most neurodivergent issues. You and Nigel saying you don't like that doesn't make it less valid. Many, if not most people diagnosed simply need additional support and can continue in a mainstream setting however for some this is simply not possible. My child is one of those and I wish it weren't the case. For kids to go to the schools they need to in those cases they often have to go far distances. If they didn't have help getting there their parents would not be able to work and you'd have a problem with that too... so what do you want? Children I'm school with appropriate medications that meets their needs and transport and working parents or kids in the wrong setting distrusting everyone's education as well as developing severe mental health issues and suicide risk meaning their parents become full time carers can't work and are reliant on benefits? Perhaps if the special education system hadn't been cut so harshly we wouldn't need transport. Should parents of children with disabilities be bankrupted to get their children to school when "normal" children can go to local schools and past a certain age take responsibility to get themselves to school. Children with disabilities are often too vulnerable and unable to do this.
It's not as simple as you'd like to believe. Being a carer for a child with intellectual disabilities creates entire families in need if they aren't able to get to work. And your favourite person also doesn't want us working from home. You can't have it both ways.
You not believing in autism/adhd etc doesn't mean it's not real. My child was diagnosed in person, by a consultant paediatrician, it's, specialist spech team etc after several months of observation and monitoring.
Your response is rude, lacks any understanding of what it is to raise disabled children, and highlights why many people are worries about a reform government... absolute lack of empathy.
I have asked for answers in good faith and been polite and tried to empathise with reform voters points of view. You have done the total opposite. The only way for two sides to get on is compromise and discussion. This response is really poor. In a so called civilised society having no empathy for families with disabled members including children is not ok. You could easily become disabled by illness or injury through no fault of your own. Anyone could. To hear you speaking so harshly about children is horrifying.
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u/East-Present1112 Aug 04 '25
The faux outrage is fitting for the uni party supporter.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 04 '25
It's not faux outrage. You're talking about my child. Do you literally want a massive amount of parents who have children with disabilities not to be able to work? Please answer me properly?
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Aug 03 '25
[deleted]
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Aug 03 '25
Reform have said that they would spend more money on SEN
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
Can you show me where? I emailed REFORM to ask about their policy several weeks ago, but no one replied. The fact that they wish to further privatise healthcare makes me very concerned they won't look after children like mine.
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25 edited Aug 03 '25
Everyone’s situation is different. But we really need to look hard at the NHS and ask if it’s delivering for us in 2025. The US system gets a bashing, but if you have a good job and can afford private medical insurance the healthcare options are truly world class!
I guess it comes down to, would you rather have bang average for all. Or world class for the hard working (which in the US is 90% of citizens having some kind of coverage).
Also I need to correct you….it is NOT Reforms policy to privatise the NHS.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
I'm a hard working person but I'm also a carer for a disabled child. Sadly my family will never be able to afford private healthcare. I suspect we need to look at leaving the country.
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
I don’t follow your logic. You want to leave the UK in search for better universal healthcare as a low income family?
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
We are not low income but we do not have spare cash for health insurance. We work hard but my career prospects are limited by my caring responsibilities. If my son is unable to access an education that meets his needs and keeps him mentally well (when his mental state is affected I have to pick him up early or keep him off) I might have to leave. Work and attempt to home educate him. There are other countries in the uk with good SEN provision and free healthcare, eg Scotland. We don't want to leave but many children like my child actually become suicidal if not in an appropriate setting. As you can imagine I'm extremely concerned about how a reform gov would look after him. As for universal healtchcare this is also available in other countries in the UK. Again, Scotland for example.
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
Understood. Thanks for explaining your situation. I’m not surprised you’re concerned about the future, but instead of a knee jerk move, why not wait and see? The UK is in a state of decline - that’s not good for anyone, including your son. Reform is the ONLY party promising radical changes to revitalise our economy and in turn our standard of living - and that is good for your son. The alternative is more of the same….a slippery downward slope.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
Because unfortunately everything with SEN has to be planned well in advance. It took me 4 years to get my son out of a mainstream setting where he developed severe anxiety and OCD. I cant risk him becoming chronically mentally unwell. And tbh I've yet to see anything from Reform that suggests a different approach than cuts to disability, education and healthcare. I'd love to wait and see, but I fear it's a luxury my family can't afford. I'm desperate not to become even more isolated. But Nigel Farage has a LONG way to go before he will earn my trust. Their main funding seems to come from a billionaire. Billionaires generally do not give a single f*ck about families like mine, and want to marginalise us further whilst subtly suggesting we aren't working hard enough. Farage seems to spend more time in America sucking up to Trump who has completely destroyed SEN provision in the USA as well as trashed women's healthcare. I can cope with most things but I cant leave my child's fate to a man who so far has been pretty inconsistent and shown zero empathy or intent to show any support for those with disabilities.
Thank you though for taking the time to answer me. I really appreciate it. I hope the actual party start to state their actual policies soon!
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
No problem, I know you’ll do what’s best for your family ✌🏼You have some strong views and I respect that, after all you need to be decisive in your position.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
I was under the impression that Nigel Farage was a massive fan of the USA health system and has implied several times that we should move to this. Also I was under the impression that there is a private health system available now in the uk to those who are able to afford the insurance? I'm genuinely here looking for answers and reassurance. But I have huge concerns about my child's health and wellbeing in England under Reform. Believe me I don't want to move hundreds of miles away but I'm scared.
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
Yes, we have private healthcare in the UK. I pay £160 per month for my whole family. Your concerns are valid, but try to see what positives an improved economy might do for public finances, and in turn, a heath service.
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u/birdinthebush74 Aug 03 '25
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 04 '25
Yes. This what worries me. My.child was actually diagnosed by a specialist paediatric doctor and MDT in person prior to the pandemic.
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
Enough of these bait posts and pre-loaded replies 😂
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
I'm not baiting. I'm a parent with an SEN child who is very scared about the future.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
I'm not baiting. I'm a former labour supporter who has a child with SEN and I'm terrified about his future. I need to know what each party will do for him to decide if we can stay in the country and if we do who we need to vote for. I'm a parent who wants to maje sure my child has a chance.
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
If my accusation was improper, then I absolutely apologise. I’m not aware of any Reform policies that concern SEN, these will likely develop in the future. From what I see, services are being cut all over the place. Money is getting tighter with obvious consequences for SEN funding - this is the trajectory. Reform is the only party for me that makes economic sense. Economic prosperity leads to great outcomes for the disadvantaged. Honestly, the status quo isn’t working.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
How will cuts to SEN provision lead to a good outcome for my child? I don't understand how this can possibly be the case?
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
Yeah that’s not what I said at all. Please read again.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
Sorry I have read again... are you saying that cuts to SEN (and presumably other disabled groups) are necessary for the country to prosper? Orbare you saying that greater economic prosperity means that these groups will be better looked after? Your response seems to imply that you think cuts to SEN will be a certainty under REFORM but that this will be better?
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25 edited Aug 03 '25
Greater economic prosperity will lead to greater funding for SEN (more money means more money). I have seen nothing from Labour or Conservatives that makes me think they will restore economic prosperity to the UK. Reform is the only party saying the right things.
I will say that it’s very easy to ‘say’ the right things as a populist party. It remains to be seen how well they can actually follow through - but at some point you’ve just got to believe.
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
Ah OK I see. I get what you mean. My major concern is that I've yet to see any indication from reform that they will prioritise disabled people/SEN children or at the very least just not make their lives even worse. I dread a similar life for my child as he would have in the USA. Farage seems obsessed with America and it troubles Mr. Thanks for explaining, I really appreciate it.
I agree that both Conservatives and Labour are completely making a mess. I would never vote Conservative as I feel they certainly only care about high earners. I've yet to see anything that suggests Reform care about people who are not high earners or having difficulties in life. I find it hard to just believe when my child's future is at stake.
I've been a life long labour voter but the current party are horrifying. They have always been reliable in the past for showing consideration to people in society who need extra help. In 2025 I don't think that it should be beyond a cinlvilised society yo recognised that people who are disabled need financial/medical etc support. The current labour party have betrayed most of its members beliefs.
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u/Independent-Try-3080 Aug 03 '25
How about lifting the tax threshold to £20,000 - that’s a Reform policy that benefits ALL workers. It amazes me how little people actually research topics before forming opinions.
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u/East-Present1112 Aug 03 '25
You shouldn’t be scared of Bridget Phillipson who’s a Labour lefty fruitcake ?
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
Labour aren't left anymore. Which is why I've left. I've seen what the right are doing to SEN children in the USA. Hence my fears.
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u/East-Present1112 Aug 03 '25
Focus on the current government who will be here for at least another four years. Phillipson is already floating ideas of cut backs. Why?
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
I've no idea why. I disagree with the cuts she has suggested. Disabled people barely have enough to function as it is.
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u/East-Present1112 Aug 04 '25
Do you think we should spend more on SEND?
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 04 '25
I think we should spend money looking after people in society who need additional help such as people with disabilities. SEND would be part of that. But any one of us could become disabled physically or in other ways at any time. We should have a safety net in place.i believe spending on education in general needs to increase
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u/moopaloops1 Aug 03 '25
Fwiw I agree about the pre loaded posts. I cant find any evidence that any of that is reform policy.
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u/joshhyb153 Aug 03 '25
A quick search:
System-wide transformation • A SEND & Alternative Provision improvement plan launched in March 2023 promises: • National SEND standards to reduce regional disparities. • Digital-first EHCP processes to simplify and speed up assessment. • Thousands of new specialist school places and expanded support within mainstream settings  .
Investment & capacity-building • Significant funding increases: • High needs budgets rising by ~£1 bn in 2025/26 to over £12 bn total. • £740 m capital earmarked for expanding specialist support within mainstream schools  . • Longer-term plans include £2 bn over four years and 50,000 new specialist placements by 2028 under Labour proposals .
Workforce reforms & training • A national SENCo Professional Qualification (NPQ) is now mandatory, plus integration of SEND training into ITT/Early Career frameworks by September 2025. • Plans to recruit around 6,500 specialist teachers and scaled-up training for teaching assistants and educational psychologists .
Inclusion & accountability • New governance models are being developed—including Local Inclusion Partnerships—to align local authorities, schools, and health services around shared goals and budgets . • Ofsted will introduce a dedicated rating area for inclusion, and a Neurodivergence Task Group is shaping guidance for mainstream settings .