Coffee House Shots Amanda Spielman on the SEND row and Labour’s Ofsted blind spot
Jul 12, 2025
Amanda Spielman, the former Chief Inspector of Ofsted, brings her extensive knowledge in education to discuss the challenges surrounding the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. She sheds light on the unintended consequences of the 2014 overhaul and questions the effectiveness of teaching assistants. Michael Simmons highlights the looming fiscal crisis for local authorities and the impact of COVID-19 on children's education. Together, they explore the troubling political landscape as Labour grapples with how to properly support disabled children without fracturing.
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SEND System's Growing Pains
- The 2014 SEND system expanded rights leading to a rise in diagnoses like ADHD and autism, often non-physically disabling.
- This growth jams the system, increasing cost while some children may receive excessive support and others insufficient.
Fiscal Strain in SEND Support
- The rising costs of SEND support threaten local authority finances, risking bankruptcies.
- Reform is necessary but politically fraught, as cutting support faces opposition within Labour despite fiscal reality.