Kevan Collins has been appointed as the education secretary鈥檚 delivery adviser with a focus on SEND reform and reviewing how the department engages with councils. Collins, the Department for Education鈥檚 , will take on the additional part-time role for two days a week for an initial 18 months. Schools white paper: The key SEND reform policies He will focus on supporting the DfE鈥檚 delivery unit on SEND reform and reviewing how it engages with councils 鈥渢o ensure reform programmes are clear and achievable鈥�. This will include challenging and supporting the senior leaders of “the highest risk” councils. This will be measured across a “range of key delivery commitments”. Ministers released their long-awaited plans to overhaul the SEND system on Monday, which included new duties for schools and tiers of help for pupils. Collins, a former CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation who worked on New Labour’s “London Challenge” school improvement programme, said: 鈥淗aving worked across the education system, I know that ambitious plans only matter if they translate into real change in classrooms and communities. 鈥淐hildren with SEND and their families have waited too long for the support they need, and I’m determined to help ensure these reforms deliver for them. 鈥淚 look forward to working with colleagues across the department and with local authorities to make that happen.” ‘Proven track record’ Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said: 鈥淓very child, whatever their needs, should have the opportunity to achieve and thrive at their local school. Bridget Phillipson 鈥淜evan has a proven track record of driving improvement across education, and his expertise will be invaluable as we deliver the Schools White Paper and our mission to shift children with SEND from sidelined to included.” A terms of reference, , reveals he will be paid 拢577 per day, totalling 拢60,000 a year. The appointment began this week and will run until August next year, with an option to extend by another 18 months. Collins was previously catch-up tsar during the pandemic under the Conservative government, but resigned over a lack of funding. After the last election, Labour appointed him as school standards tsar and non-executive board member. He was promoted to lead the board last year. Collins also previously declared that he is a Labour member and made a 拢500 donation to the party.