DELAYS to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities reform has been described as “massively disappointing” by the leader of Somerset Council.

This comes after the government announced that any planned reform will be unveiled in 2026, despite expectations that a Schools White Paper would be published this autumn.

The delay was to allow for further co-design and testing of the White Paper’s proposals.

A protest was held outside of Somerset Council’s County Hall on Monday, October 13, calling for greater support of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and would be attended by Somerset Council leader cllr Bill Revans and cllr Heather Shearer, lead member for children families and education.

It was part of a campaign across England organised by a parent-led organisation representing more than 35,000 families, called The Send Sanctuary UK.

Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans, said: “Time is of the essence, so this delay is massively disappointing. The number of young people needing education, health and care plans is rising faster than ever before.

“Councils are on course to amass £6-billion in deficits by March next year. Families are waiting ever longer for the support their children desperately need.

“We need comprehensive changes that will make the system sustainable and address the dramatic rise in costs we have seen over the last decade. Anything other than root and branch reform will place councils in a vicious cycle over overspending and worsening services for families.”

Cllr Shearer added: "This is a national crisis, and we stand with the parents of SEND children and families in Somerset who believe they are unheard and misrepresented in Westminster.

“What’s really needed is urgent and effective reform of the SEND legislation that properly addresses the increasing complexity of need that children and families are experiencing now.”