Special Educational Needs: support in England
An overview of the current system of support for children and young people with special educational needs, and pressure on the system

A general debate on children's social care in England was scheduled for 9 October 2018, to take place in the main Commons Chamber.
General debate on children's social care in England (628 KB , PDF)
This debate was sponsored by Tim Loughton MP who proposed a wide-ranging debate to the Backbench Business Committee on 10 July 2018.
PLEASE NOTE: This debate did not take place. It is not known if it will be rescheduled.
This debate pack was prepared in advance of the debate. It outlines the legal and policy contexts of children’s social care in England, including the Government’s strategy and initiatives to drive improvement.
Commentators have identified ongoing concerns with children’s social care services. The paper briefly summarises some of the key challenges, including: increasing demand for children’s social care; funding pressures; varying thresholds for social care; poor and inadequate services in some areas; and poor outcomes for children in need.
The debate pack also provides a selection of recent news articles, sector comment and parliamentary material on the subject of children’s social care.
General debate on children's social care in England (628 KB , PDF)
An overview of the current system of support for children and young people with special educational needs, and pressure on the system
Information on local authority support for unpaid carers in England, including young carers and parent carers of disabled children.
A Westminster Hall debate on government support for children in adoptive and kinship placements is scheduled for Tuesday 20 May 2025 at 2:30pm. The debate will be led by Rebecca Smith MP.