Member

However, I recognise that disabled children and those with special educational needs have particular vulnerabilities. With that in mind, it is also worth noting that the statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, was strengthened in 2023 to recognise the specific needs of disabled children and emphasise a whole-family approach to support and services. The noble Baroness, Lady Sanderson, also touched on the wider concern around special educational needs and disabilities in education. I assure her that this Government are very seized of the enormously difficult position in which the SEND system finds itself at the moment. We have already increased investment and, having worked with parents and others, will certainly come forward with reforms to help us to ensure that this system works better. Frankly, it is not working well enough for families, children or their parents at the moment.