On the 23rd of February 2026, the government released its long-anticipated SEND White Paper. The White Paper sets out proposed changes to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).
Margaret Mullane- the Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham told the Havering Daily: “I know that parents, schools, and both Barking and Dagenham and Havering Council have been awaiting the publication of this White Paper with uncertainty and in some cases with apprehension.
“To ensure that local voices were heard at the highest levels of government, last year I held a roundtable and provided feedback to the Education Minister. Once families across Dagenham and Rainham have had time to digest the White Paper I will be holding another meeting with key stakeholders, which I will feed into the review.”
A public consultation period is now open for twelve-weeks, closing on Monday 18th May 2026. The government would like to hear from anyone who has an interest in the reforms including:
• children, young people and families
• teachers and leaders
An overview of the proposals and details of how to make a submission to the SEND review can be found here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/
Margaret added: “I am urging all constituents with an interest to take part in this consultation. It’s important to me that the experiences of SEND families and professionals in Dagenham and Rainham form part of the government’s process, so that any forthcoming legislative changes reflect the needs of local people. I am absolutely committed to delivering a better future for families of SEND children and young people.”
Submit your views on the proposals here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/
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