Campaigners are demanding a significant change in the way disabled children are educated. They believe the current system is broken and needs a complete overhaul. The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) is leading the charge, advocating for a new law that would guarantee the right to inclusive education in mainstream schools.
The concern is that the government’s planned changes to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system may limit access to essential support for disabled children. Currently, about 270,000 disabled children in mainstream schools have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which outline the support they need. However, campaigners worry that these plans may be removed or limited, leaving disabled children without the support they need.
ALLFIE argues that the current system is flawed, forcing families to fight for help and favoring those who can afford lawyers. They believe that education is a basic human right and should not depend on local council budgets or complex evaluations. Instead, they want a system that provides inclusive education in mainstream schools, without the need for special plans.
The organization’s chair, Navin Kikabhai, calls for a complete rethink of the system. He advocates for a new law, the Inclusive Education Act, which would make it illegal for schools to turn away disabled students. He also wants to see an end to separate or segregated education and the development of a fully inclusive school system.
Campaigners stress that rights must be guaranteed and not left to the discretion of local councils. While the Education Secretary has promised that there will always be a legal right to support for children with SEND, campaigners remain skeptical and are pushing for a more comprehensive overhaul of the system. Ultimately, they want to ensure that disabled children have access to quality education that meets their needs and allows them to thrive.
