A former education secretary and ex-children鈥檚 commissioner are among members of a taskforce on how to reform the 鈥渂roken鈥� SEND system. The independent inclusion taskforce, chaired by former ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton, will produce a 鈥渞oadmap to reform鈥� and aims to address 鈥渦rgent challenges鈥� in the current system. Other prominent names include Confederation of School Trusts chief executive Leora Cruddas and Hilary Spencer, CEO of the Ambition Institute. One in five children are now identified as having special educational needs, equivalent to six children in every classroom. Anne Longfield It comes ahead of a government white paper, expected in the autumn, that will set out ministers鈥� reform proposals. The full membership of the panel, announced today, includes Conservative peer Baroness Morgan, who served as education secretary between 2014-16. Also on the taskforce is Labour peer Baroness Longfield, who served as England鈥檚 children鈥檚 commissioner from 2015 to 2021 and then set up the Centre for Young Lives. ‘A practical plan’ The taskforce will gather evidence from families, educators, local authorities and support professionals, with recommendations set to be published in the autumn. Leora Cruddas Ministers have remained tight-lipped about what reforms could look like and refused to rule out scrapping education and health care plans last month. Charities have warned the idea of scrapping plans 鈥渨ill terrify families鈥�. Barton will also host two podcasts each week as part of the inclusion taskforce鈥檚 work, set to delve into the challenges and opportunities for reform. Barton served as ASCL鈥檚 general secretary for seven years. Before that he was a head of a Suffolk comprehensive school for 15 years. He said the panel 鈥渂rings together people with the expertise, lived experience and determination to imagine a system that works for everyone 鈥� and to set out a practical plan to get there.鈥� The full membership Geoff Barton – former teacher, headteacher and general secretary of ASCL Baroness Morgan of Cote – former secretary of state for education Baroness Anne Longfield – executive chair and founder of the Centre for Young Lives, and former Children’s Commissioner for England Jonny Uttley – CEO of the Education Alliance Multi-Academy Trust Leora Cruddas – founding chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts Wasim Butt – National Director at Ormiston Academies Trust Hilary Spencer – CEO of Ambition Institute Margaret Mullholland – SEND specialist at ASCL and advisor to the UK government Susan Tranter – chief executive of EdAct Trust John Pearce – former president of the Association of Directors of Children鈥檚 Services (ADCS) Sarah Clarke and Jo Harrison 鈥� parents and co-chairs of the National Network of Parent and Carer Forums Chris Paterson – acting co-CEO at the Education Endowment Foundation
Clare Walsh 19 August 2025 Where’s the EP’s, OT’s and SALT’s, the SEND experience? Real life experience? Made up of people who are already part of the institution that causes the system to be broken in the first place. Need more people who understand why the system is failing not more people trying to dodge tribunals and cost cutting. Do better Labour!!!
RM 20 August 2025 And not a single one of them, as far as I know, has any neuroaffirming credibility. So we鈥檙e going to continue to traumatise neurodivergent individuals by forcing them into neurotypical boxes and then criticising them when they can鈥檛 cope, destroying their mental health, increasing suicide rates etc. Oh well done, yet again鈥�
Janet 20 August 2025 But no actual teachers who work in actual classrooms, every day, or even SENCOs who work tirelessly to try and get the correct support for each and every child.