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The Latest Breaking News from Bridget Phillipson

Voices: I learned the power of reading on my grandad’s knee – now I’m passing it on

COMMENT: As both a parent and minister, I know how powerful books can be, writes education secretary Bridget Phillipson. With the launch of a National Year of Reading in 2026, we can make reading not just a school skill, but a family ritual that can shape a child's future

The Independent UK

To those who question what Labour stands for – look at Best Start. It will change Britain’s future

Sure Start was New Labour’s finest achievement, and the Tories destroyed it. Now it’s back with a mission to put children at the heart of everything, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

The Guardian - UK

Near-Dickensian poverty levels for some children in England, warns commissioner

A new report noted a range of concerns including lack of access to quality, healthy food and living in cramped and poor conditions.

The Independent UK

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‘Mouldy or full of rats’: Children in England face almost-Dickensian levels of poverty

A report from the Children’s Commissioner noted a range of concerns, including living in cramped and poor conditions

The Independent UK

Before the government overhauls special educational needs, lessons must be learnt

THE INDEPENDENT VIEW: Editorial: The welfare reform bill fiasco has made rethinking education, health and care plans infinitely more difficult. Any reforms must clearly be for the benefit of the recipients – not driven by the Treasury’s need to make savings

The Independent UK

Blunkett urges ministers to use ‘incredible sensitivity’ when changing Send system in England

Former home secretary tells government to reassure parents there will be a ‘meaningful replacement’ for EHCPs

The Guardian - UK

Labour picks on kids as Farage reaches for his human punchbag

The government opens up another fight, while the Reform leader throws his sidekick to the wolves

The Guardian - UK

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Phillipson: Family hubs will give parents freedom to focus on loving children

It comes alongside plans to offer £4,500 to specialist teachers, in a bid to attract staff to nurseries.

The Independent UK

The Guardian view on special needs reform: children’s needs must be the priority as the system is redesigned

Editorial: Ministers are right that change is required. But more inclusive mainstream schools can coexist with rights to special provision

The Guardian - UK

Voices: Why, as a special needs parent, any changes to my child’s support frighten me

COMMENT : It took years of wrestling with bureaucracy before my local authority agreed to provide the services that my child is legally entitled to – so I won’t be handing back our hard-won SEND provision without a fight, says James Moore

The Independent UK

Labour must keep EHCPs in Send system, says education committee chair

Helen Hayes says commitment would help rebuild trust among parents in England worried about children’s future

The Guardian - UK

Minister dodges questions on special education for children as Starmer faces new revolt threat by Labour MPs

Education minister Stephen Morgan declined to say if pupils currently getting special educational needs support would continue to get the same level under planned reforms

Evening Standard

Ministers fail to rule out cutting Send school plans after campaigners’ concerns

Stephen Morgan insisted parents should have ‘absolutely’ no fear that support for children with special needs or disabilities will be scaled back.

Evening Standard

Starmer braced for fresh rebellion over reforms to special needs support

It comes after Bridget Phillipson refused to rule out scrapping key documents that parents rely on to guarantee specialist help for their children

The Independent UK

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The Guardian - UK

Labour vows to protect Sure Start-type system from any future Reform assault

Exclusive: Education secretary says scheme will be so deeply embedded that no rightwing party can unpick it

The Guardian - UK

After disability benefits, is Labour really about to target the educational rights of special needs children?

Noise has been building about restricting help for kids who badly need it. As a special needs parent, I can tell you: it’s terrifying, says Guardian columnist John Harris

Evening Standard

Nursery teachers in disadvantaged communities to be offered £4,500 incentive

The Best Start In Life Strategy was being announced on Monday.

Evening Standard

Campaigners urge Government to keep care plans for children with Send

In total, there were 638,745 EHCPs in place in January 2025, up 10.8% on the same point last year.

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The Guardian - UK

Government faces battle over Send overhaul as campaigners voice fears

MPs and parents worry shake-up may abolish vital education, health and care plans that SEN children rely on

Evening Standard

Ministers ‘pushed ahead too fast’ on welfare reform, says Phillipson

The Government warned there would be financial consequences to the decision not to reform personal independence payment as planned.

The Guardian - UK

Scrapping two-child benefit cap may be harder after welfare U-turn, minister says

Bridget Phillipson stresses that changes to welfare bill after threatened rebellion by backbench MPs have come at a cost

The National (Scotland)

Cabinet minister refuses to confirm if two-child cap will be scrapped

A cabinet minister has refused to confirm whether the Labour Government will keep the the two-child benefit cap in place in a bid to save money

The Guardian - UK

One-stop family hubs to be opened in all English council areas

Government announces £500m project to provide single-point of access for health, education and wellbeing services

Evening Standard

Family hubs to be rolled out across every council in England

The Education Secretary described the Best Start scheme as a lifeline.

Evening Standard

Councils will have to set targets to improve number of children ready for school

Bridget Phillipson will decry ‘a national scandal’ when she speaks at a Government regional improvement conference on Friday.

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