GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope has grilled Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP on Labour’s extra £4billion in funding that will be used to make state schools more inclusive.
Christopher asked Ms Phillipson: “Just looking at your forecasts here, the number of children with educational, health and care plans will be the same in 2033-34 as it is now. In addition, one in five children will have individual support plans. So why is this figure so high? Are the problems getting worse or are they not being diagnosed?”
She responded: “So what we project is that the number of children needing EHCPs will continue to rise. And part of the reason is all of the unmet need that we’ve seen develop over many, many years.
“If you’re a society that doesn’t have support when children are young and if where that support is being pulled away, as we saw in the past, then that does make a big difference to children as they arrive at school. It’s part of the reason that so many children arrive not ready to learn, and that’s why we’re investing so much money in support in early years and working with councils to deliver really high quality provision that will help parents and will meet them where they are.”
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