The education committee has demanded government set out its plans and timescales for major SEND reforms after reports a white paper is on the table. Committee chair Helen Hayes said while the Department for Education has submitted evidence to the ongoing SEND inquiry, it made 鈥渘o reference to an upcoming white paper or other major policy announcement鈥�. 鈥淚n light of recent media reports suggesting the imminent publication of a white paper on SEND, we ask you to write to us setting out your plans and the anticipated timescales for any policy announcements on SEND over the next six months,鈥� Hayes said. In a letter to schools minister Catherine McKinnell, , Hayes said the committee鈥檚 SEND inquiry had an 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� number of contributions, including from parents of children with additional needs. Over 880 pieces of evidence was submitted to the committee which reflects the 鈥渉uge impact鈥� the SEND system has on children鈥檚 daily lives, she said. This week the committee heard concerns about Ofsted鈥檚 plans on inclusion and wider funding from sector experts, as well as from youngsters. Hayes said SEND is the 鈥渕ost significant challenge facing the education sector鈥�. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has set out her intention to oversee 鈥渟ystem-wide鈥� reform. The Guardian reported last week that a SEND white paper is being drawn up. One of the big problems is funding, with councils having high needs deficits that could total nearly 拢5 billion by 2026. Half of councils have warned they will become insolvent when an accounting measure keeping the deficits off their balance sheets expires next year. Local authorities have been allowed to keep the deficits off their main balance sheets since 2020, under a measure called a 鈥渟tatutory override鈥�. This prevents them from effectively declaring bankruptcy. The government has still not said what it will do when the override expires next year. A DfE spokesperson said: “The evidence is clear that the SEND system has been on its knees for years 鈥� with too many children not having their needs met and parents forced to fight for support. 鈥淚t will take time, but through our Plan for Change we are determined to spread opportunity, restore the confidence of families up and down the country and deliver the improvement they are crying out for. 鈥淲e are already making progress, with 拢1 billion extra investment in day-to-day services, 拢740 million directed to encourage local authorities to create more specialist places in mainstream schools and the Curriculum and Assessment Review which will look at barriers that hold children back from the best life chances.鈥�