The Church of England has welcomed the Government’s announcements ahead of the Schools White Paper and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) consultation, recognising the opportunity they offer to secure long‑term improvements for children, young people and families.

The White Paper’s child‑centred approach sets out what every child needs to thrive, and outlines ambitious steps towards achieving this longer-term vision together. We commend this direction, which reflects themes within the Church’s recent Class of 2040 work in partnership with Catholic Education Service and Confederation of School Trusts and its own wider Vision for Education, rooted in wisdom, hope, community, dignity, and the flourishing of every child.

As the largest single provider of schools in England, and with a long history of serving the most vulnerable, the Church – through the National Society for Education – has committed to engaging constructively with the consultation process and examining the proposals closely.

Notable inclusions relate to strengthening support for children with SEND and improving the coherence of the SEND system, recognising the importance of shared planning across schools, trusts, dioceses, local authorities and specialist services.

There is a clear intention to deepen evidence-informed SEND/Inclusion expertise within mainstream school settings and to increase investment in professional development for leaders and teachers. It also highlights the importance of a careful and phased approach to reform. Any changes to the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) system will need to protect children’s rights and give confidence to parents. Increased expectations on mainstream schools should be matched by realistic provision for staff wellbeing, workload and training.

The White Paper’s ambition to enhance collaboration across the school system aligns with the Church’s experience that well‑led, vision‑driven school trusts  can enable children and adults to flourish together. A broader curriculum and wider enrichment opportunities are similarly positive indicators of a rounded educational vision.

At the same time, any changes to school organisation must be approached with coherence and sensitivity to local context, particularly for rural and small schools. Different areas will require differing forms of support and timelines, and robust oversight and bespoke regional collaboration will be essential to ensure that such structures genuinely improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and preserve each school’s distinctive ethos and identity.

The National Society for Education will study the full detail carefully and continue to work with Government, Dioceses, Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and school leaders, sector partners and local communities to help ensure these reforms translate into long-term sustainable benefits for children and young people.

Andy Wolfe, Interim Chief Education Officer for the Church of England said:

“We welcome the Schools White Paper’s long‑term, child‑focused approach and its emphasis on improving inclusion and standards as two sides of the same coin. These themes are at the heart of our Vision for Education and our core mission to enable the flourishing of every child.

“There is much here that has the potential to strengthen the system, though the complexity of implementation should not be underestimated. Changes to SEND provision in particular, will need time, wisdom and careful consideration by a wide range of stakeholders if they are to succeed.

“We look forward to engaging thoughtfully with the consultation and working positively with others to help ensure the proposals translate into long-lasting improvements for children, families and communities.”