Children in Poverty

Part of Women and Equalities – in the House of Commons at on 11 March 2026.

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Photo of Bridget Phillipson Bridget Phillipson The Secretary of State for Education, Minister for Women and Equalities

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this area. It is why, through our SEND consultation that will cover England, we want to make sure that support is available to children much more quickly. Of course, formal diagnosis will continue to have an important role and families will seek that, but we should not be waiting for diagnosis to put in place the support that children need. That is why, through the big investment we are delivering in SEND—an extra £4 billion—we will make sure that children get the support when they need it and where they need it.