Parents and carers from the Changing Realities project recently met with the UK’s Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, to share their hopes and fears about the forthcoming Schools White Paper and reforms for children with SEND.

The group discussed their experiences as parents of SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) children and young people with Ms Phillipson, describing attempts to access SEND support as akin to a ‘battle’, and sharing the negative impacts this has had on their own mental health and wellbeing.

Changing Realities is a unique collaboration between almost 200 parents and carers on a low-income from all four nations of the UK, researchers at the universities of Glasgow and York, and Child Poverty Action Group. It has a structured role in the development of the UK Government’s Child Poverty Strategy, which is expected this autumn. 

Following the meeting, Changing Realities has published a policy note that highlights three key principles that it believes the White Paper should include:

Listen to and work directly with parents and carers, and children and young people with experience of SEND - drawing on their expertise to help co-design systems of support and inclusion that will actually work.

Recognise that sustained and effective action to improve the experiences of children and young people with SEND requires a cross-governmental approach.

Champion inclusion and diversity, but make sure this flows through every element of educational activity.

The parents and carers also identified priority areas for change, including making provision better for all children, reforming the EHCP system, and having tailored support for specific needs and transitions. They strongly advocated for broader systems of support that go beyond in-school provision.

In the meeting, Ms Phillipson committed to a further conversation with Changing Realities following the publication of the white paper. She will also work with Changing Realities to design the proposals.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The experiences shared at this roundtable highlight the stark need for reform, with too many parents forced to battle for support and their trust in the system we inherited completely lost.

“We’ll continue to listen closely to parents and carers as we work to make sure more children get the early support they need, as routine and without a fight.

“We’re already making progress through our Plan for Change to drive better outcomes for children, including through a £740 million investment to create more specialist places in mainstream schools, a new inclusion-centred training curriculum, and earlier intervention for speech and language needs.”

Feedback from parents and carers who attended the meeting was positive and hopeful.

Helen Coy said: “I am feeling very proud to be part of Changing Realities and the opportunity to meet with the ultimate key decision makers regarding the future policies affecting education in England - in particular, how SEND provision must improve. To have my voice and story heard at such a top level is a privilege I will never take for granted, and I hope I represent many other families, especially those on a low income who are also fighting for a better education experience for their children.”

Tayyaba added: “My reflection from today is that there is a dim light at the end of a tunnel. I feel that Bridget Phillipson wants to make positive changes to save the future of our children in the UK. I'm feeling hopeful that the system will work for us, not against us.”

Jo Barker-Marsh said: “The sense of pride I felt at being with people who care, who know and who see me, in such an important meeting, will remain with me for a long time. This project has changed my life, let’s hope the outcome from this work, changes many, many more lives.”

Professor Ruth Patrick, who leads Changing Realities, said: “The Schools White Paper presents an opportunity to start the vital work of reforming what is a completely broken system of support for children and young people with special educational needs. In our meeting with Bridget Philipson today, parents and carers spoke of the urgent need for reform and of the importance of working directly with parents and carers who know better perhaps than anyone what the problems are, and who can help co-design solutions that will work for their children, and make the system better for everyone.

“We are delighted that the Secretary of State has committed to a further meeting with Changing Realities after the White Paper is published, and stand ready to start the work of building a more inclusive and supportive schools system in England, something which matters so much to us all.”

This meeting is the latest in a series of participatory policymaking sessions held between Changing Realities and politicians across 2025. The group met Bridget Philiippson earlier this year for an initial discussion about SEND support for parents and carers on a low-income, and this was linked to structured engagement tied to the UK Government’s forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy.

Parents also met with Scotland’s First Minister in April and then again together with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice earlier this month, to discuss the Scottish Government’s plans to eradicate child poverty.

This blog has been cross posted on the University news website. 

First published: 3 October 2025

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