FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Date: 23/02/2025
Contact: Wirral NEU | Email: michael.farrelly@neu.org.uk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wirral National Education Union (NEU)
Response to the Government’s “Every Child Achieving and Thriving” White Paper
The Wirral District of the National Education Union (NEU) today responds to the publication of the Government’s long-awaited schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, released on 23 February 2026. The white paper sets out major reforms to England’s schools and SEND systems, including large-scale structural changes to multi‑academy trusts, recruitment plans for 6,500 additional teachers, and wide-ranging proposals to overhaul SEND provision.
While the Government claims the proposals will broaden the school experience, improve inclusion, and transform accountability frameworks, the NEU raises significant concerns about funding, enforceability, democratic oversight, and the risks of further fragmentation of the education system.
Daniel Kebede, NEU General Secretary, said:
“The National Education Union welcomes the government’s ambition to reshape the SEND landscape to ensure it works for all children. All children must have ready access to special needs support from their school without a long bureaucratic process and mainstream schools will have more access to specialist services.
“The NEU has been calling for funding for more resources for inclusion in mainstream schools, so we welcome the announcement of the Inclusion Grant. However, it is too small. It only equates to a part-time teaching assistant for the average primary school and two teaching assistants for average secondary schools. This is not enough to make schools more inclusive.
“The Experts at Hand specialists will need capacity and resource but will provide schools with the additional support and advice that we have long been calling for.
“The NEU is pleased that the government intends to tackle the profiteering by independent special schools who have been charging exorbitant fees for poor quality provision and draining resources from the system.
“It is essential that local authorities retain the statutory responsibilities around SEND and SEND funding allocation in partnerships with all their local schools. We are pleased to see the recognition from Bridget Phillipson that it is collaboration not competition that fuels school improvement. It is the time for reform of multi-academy trusts. We want to see the White Paper introduce the ability for a school to leave a trust. We want action on MAT CEO pay. We want action to ensure good employment practice in MATs, to address the shocking teacher turnover.
“We are glad that the government has listened to the NEU and increased the level of maternity pay. It is a vital step in the right direction to bring teachers’ maternity rights closer to the rest of the public sector. We need also to see a whole raft of other measures to improve the working conditions of the profession that recognises the fact that 75 per cent of teachers are women.
“For these reforms to be successful the government must work with the profession and schools. They must listen to parents’ concerns, and they must make sure that there are enough resources available. Schools are running on empty. The government must not put more expectations on schools without real additional resources – and the funding currently announced is not enough.”
Local Perspective – Michael Farrelly, Wirral NEU District Secretary, said:
“Here in Wirral, our members work every day to support children with diverse needs, and we see first-hand the impact of stretched budgets, rising demand, and insufficient specialist provision. While the white paper talks about inclusion and engagement, it offers no credible funding strategy that would allow schools to deliver on those aims.
We also echo Daniel’s call for a provision for schools to leave Multi Academy Trusts and return to Local Authority control.
Wirral schools need more teachers, more support staff, and more funding to reduce waiting times for assessments, support EHCP delivery, and ensure children can access the right support in the right place. Warm words are not enough. We urge the Government to work meaningfully with the profession, listen to the evidence, and respond to what children, families, and educators are telling them.”
Notes to Editors:
- On 28 February the NEU will begin parallel online indicative ballots for teachers and support staff across all state-funded schools and academies in England, taking the argument for better pay and funding to government, to parents and the profession. On 28 February we will begin parallel online indicative ballots for teachers and support staff across all state-funded schools and academies in England, taking the argument for better pay and funding to government, to parents and the profession.
- The NEU stands up for the future of education. It brings together the voices of half a million teachers, lecturers, support staff and leaders in maintained and independent schools and colleges across the UK. It is the largest education union in Europe.
- It is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing its members in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
- The NEU is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). It is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.
- Mike Farrelly, Branch Secretary of Wirral NEU Branch,
- National Contacts: Press Office direct line: 0207 380 4706. Out of hours: 07879 480 061