A former senior civil servant has become an adviser to a consultancy that delivered a controversial government contract that aimed to cut new education, health and care plans by 20 per cent. Indra Morris, who spent six years at the DfE and most recently worked as director general for families between 2022 and 2023, has joined Newton Europe 16 months after leaving her government post. Newton Europe worked with the government on its Delivering Better Value for SEND programme in 2022, which sought to support 55 councils in bringing down their large SEND deficit budgets. But the 拢19.5 million contract was . The government repeatedly denied it had any such target. Morris for her Newton appointment with the government鈥檚 advisory committee on business appointments. She told the panel her role would include helping the company to develop its service offering, positioning and marketing in central government, and to develop staff skills and capabilities. It would not involve lobbying or direct sales. The committee said Newton鈥檚 potential clients were unknown, meaning there was 鈥渁 risk of possible unfair advantage, or a perception of one鈥�, and there were further risks given Morris鈥檚 鈥渋nfluence and network of contacts in central government鈥�. The role should be subject to a two-year ban on lobbying the government, helping with potential contracts or any policy relating to previous work at the DfE. The DfE has since confirmed Morris had no involvement with any contract with Newton when she was at the department. ‘Better outcomes for families’ Morris told Schools Week: 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about using my time to make a meaningful impact, and Newton鈥檚 focus on evidence, data and delivery aligns perfectly with how I like to work. 鈥淢y experience in children鈥檚 social care, justice, welfare, public sector reform and consultancy position me well to help create better outcomes for families.鈥� Newton is not the only consultancy to have secured a lucrative government contract to help reform the SEND system. PA Consulting was awarded 拢7.6 million to oversee a pilot of the last government鈥檚 proposed changes. In 2023, Schools Week was gagged from revealing the day rates paid to its consultants. A spokesperson for advocacy group Special Needs Jungle said: 鈥淧oliticians like to say SEND is 鈥榣ose, lose, lose鈥�, but that鈥檚 never really been true. Families, meanwhile, are still waiting for the system to work in a way that benefits children.鈥�
Anton 14 September 2025 Unless something is done about this SEN stuff, then they will become the MAJORITY in the classroom. What happens then? Is the country going to become filled with people shouting: `let`s slit all their throats` ( ADHD and AUTISM were given as REASONS for the vile, evil remarks ) If people are MENTALLY SICK and POTENTIALLY dangerous, then LOCK THEM UP. Teaches are there to TEACH, NOT to try to control out-of-control potentially violent children. And WHO is to blame for the increasing numbers of these SEN / DDV ( Disruptive, Dangerous, Violent ) children? Well WHO is bringing them into the world, in ever-increasing numbers? Try researching the CAUSE, rather than the EFFECT. If the parents cannot control their own children, then they have no right to blame OTHERS for their own failings. In today’s `nanny state`, NO-ONE takes responsibility for their actions. Well it is about bloody time that they were made to do so.