Sir Keir Starmer could be set for another backbench revolt over plans to make changes to special needs provision in schools. Fresh from insubordination from his own MPs over proposed changes to welfare reform last week, the Prime Minister could be set for more difficulty in passing education reform, with senior MPs predicting the issue could become “welfare mark two”.

Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary said on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show that the government was committed to reforming the way in which children with additional needs are educated, which currently comes at a cost of £12 billion per year. But she stopped short of promising that parents would maintain their legally enforceable rights to guarantee children bespoke support for their needs in mainstream and specialist schools. She said: “I think even parents of children with education health and care plans (EHCP’s) know that they’ve often had to fight really hard to get that.”

Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary said the government was committed to reform (Image: Getty)

EHCPs legally require councils to provide children with a set amount of support to meet their needs.

Such needs include transport to and from school, teaching assistants or access to a specialist school.

However the use of EHCPs is on the rise, with concern in some quarters that the current model is unsustainable.

Since 2021-22, the budget for EHCPs has increased by 50%.

Phillipson added: “It’s too adversarial. It takes too long, it’s too bureaucratic.

“So, I do think we need to just take a step back and think about how do we build a better system that is more timely, more effective and actually maximises support including for children with complex needs?”

The department is expected to release plans for reform later this year (Image: Getty)

Under plans being developed by the Department for Education, it is believed that the focus will shift to funding being focused on early intervention, with more focus given to improving support in mainstream schools rather than in expensive, specialist schools.

However there are fears that the reforms could pose another threat to Keir Starmer’s leadership, with senior MPs understood to be concerned about proposals which could see access to support reduced.

One senior Labour MP told the Times that dozens of MPs were prepared to rebel against measures which they believe are driven by a desire to cost-cut by the Treasury.

They said: “The government has got to think again now or they’ll be repeating the same mistake they made with welfare reform.

“We’re all in favour of reforming the system but that cannot be driven by saving money and taking support away from children.”

Another added: “If they thought taking money away from disabled adults was bad, watch what happens when they try the same with disabled kids.”