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Politics Weekly UK

Major changes to the Send system - can the government win over MPs and parents?

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

News, Politics

4.01.4K Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the government’s long-awaited plans for the special educational needs and disabilities system. Can the controversial overhaul convince parents and MPs? Plus, the latest on the Gorton and Denton byelection. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is The Guardian.

0:10.6

Being aspirational for children with send shouldn't be radical.

0:14.4

It's common sense. It's simply believing in them.

0:17.2

So parents, please hear me when I say.

0:20.1

I believe in your children.

0:22.0

This is about improving their support, not removing their support.

0:26.1

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a system

0:31.2

that has caused trauma to lots of children and their families.

0:35.8

And it just doesn't feel like it's going to solve the problem from

0:38.9

what I see. The critical issue with the system at the moment is that there is, that money is going

0:45.8

up and up. Children's outcomes are actually getting worse. Where's the family? So we are changing

0:51.3

the way we spend money. I'm Pippa Carrera.

0:54.5

And I'm Kieran Stacey.

0:55.8

And you're listening to Politics Weekly.

0:58.0

For The Guardian.

1:04.0

Hello.

1:05.0

Hello.

1:05.6

Well, we're back at Westminster.

1:07.3

The MPs are coming back from their recess on Monday afternoon.

1:10.1

I'm back from a week away with the kids. Kieran, you were working all last week and you now look like, I'm looking at you down a video link, you look like you're in a... There's lots of neon strip lights. I'm in a school. I'm actually, I'm in a little, I think an office that is used for careers advice. Something we can all do with. Exactly, which might be apt. But no,

1:29.3

I am in an academy in Peterborough of all places where Bridget Philipson has just been laying out

1:34.9

her much anticipated send reforms and where kindly they've let me stay behind. I think the teachers

...

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