The Children and Families Bill, which was announced in the Queen's speech on 9 May, is set to change the way that a whole range of services are provided for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Department for Education (DfE) describes the Children and Families Bill as "The biggest reform to SEND provision in 30 years".
As part of the process leading up to the publication of the Bill, there has been a long-running consultation on SEND, in a Green Paper called "Support and Aspiration".
Consultation on the Green Paper ended in June 2011, and on 14 May this year the Government finally published its response in a "Next steps" document. Many of the changes proposed in the original Green Paper are to go ahead in England.
Plans include replacing Statements of Special Educational Needs and Learning Disability Assessments (for 16-25 year olds) with a simpler assessment process and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) from birth to 25.
Julie Jennings, chair of the Special Educational Needs Consortium (SEC) said: "We have a number of concerns about the proposals, particularly how the eligibility criteria and thresholds governing entitlement to a Plan will be designed. We would urge the Government to consider a robust 'national offer' for children and young people with highly specialist needs."
In related news:
16 May: Liberal Democrat MPs have revolted over cuts in benefits for disabled people. This includes the loss of up to £120 a week by some blind people when Disability Living Allowance is replaced by a new personal independence payment (PIP) from next April.
Read Insight magazine to stay up to date with outcomes from local pathfinders. There will be more on the new legislation in issue 40, out on 2 July.