Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being urged to engage with the Government's ongoing consultation on proposed reforms, before changes that could significantly weaken their rights are introduced.

Amicus Law Associate Solicitor Rebecca Roberts, who specialises in education law, is calling on families across the South West to make their voices heard before the consultation closes.

Rebecca, who will also lead a parent talk at The Den Coffee House in Taunton on 24 April from 7 to 9pm, warns that the proposals outlined in the Government's recent SEND reform white paper represent a significant and concerning shift in how support is delivered and challenged.

"On the surface, these reforms are being positioned as making the system less adversarial," said Rebecca. "But when you look more closely, they risk stripping away the very mechanisms that allow parents to challenge decisions and secure the right support for their children."

Rebecca brings both professional and personal experience to the issue. Before joining Amicus Law in 2025, she worked as a Headteacher, SENCO and inclusion manager, and is also a parent to a child with significant special educational needs.

She highlights several key concerns within the proposals:

• A move away from individual, child-centred provision towards more generic "packages" of support, risking unmet needs
• Reduced powers for tribunals to name school placements, limiting enforceable outcomes for families
• Increased reliance on local complaints processes, which lack legal enforceability
• Removal of independent scrutiny, with parents expected to challenge decisions within the same system that made them
• Greater emphasis on mainstream inclusion, despite inconsistent readiness across schools.

Rebecca added: "There is a real risk this becomes a postcode lottery. Not all schools are equipped to deliver the level of support children with SEND need, and without robust safeguards, families will have fewer options to challenge that.

"While the Government has indicated these changes will be introduced gradually, small changes add up, and over time this could fundamentally reshape the system in a way that reduces accountability and access to justice for families."

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The consultation, titled "SEND reform: putting children and young people first", is open for responses from parents, professionals and stakeholders. Rebecca is encouraging families to engage with the process before the deadline on 18 May 2026, while there is still an opportunity to influence the outcome.

Rebecca concluded: "If your child may need an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), I would strongly encourage parents to begin that process without delay. At the same time, it is vital that families share their experiences and concerns through the consultation."

To support local families, Rebecca will be hosting an informal parent talk at The Den Coffee House in Taunton on 24 April, providing an opportunity for parents to better understand the proposed changes and what they may mean in practice. To book a space visit: www.bookwhen.com/coffeechatandsupport/e/ev-sj98q-20260424190000

Amicus Law is a progressive, client-focused legal firm with offices across Devon, Somerset and Dorset. To find out more, visit www.amicuslaw.co.uk.