On Monday last week, the Education Secretary introduced the Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving.
A major pillar of this reform is the transformation of the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system, moving children from being sidelined to included. With an investment of £1.6 billion, the government aims to strengthen inclusion in mainstream schools, requiring individual support plans for every child with special needs.
This ensures that more children can attend school with their friends in their local communities rather than being sent far from home for specialist support. Additionally, the paper supports all schools joining high-quality school trusts and boosts maternity pay to retain teaching talent.
A historic milestone was reached with the passage of the Universal Credit (Removal of Two-Child Limit) Bill. The single most cost-effective step available to reduce child poverty, this law is expected to benefit 560,000 families, providing an average gain of £5,310 per year.
This legislation sits at the heart of a broader Child Poverty Strategy aiming for the largest reduction in child poverty over a single Parliament since records began.
The government reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens. In a debate on Online Harm, ministers discussed options ranging from a social media ban for under-16s to raising the digital age of consent and addressing the use of VPNs to bypass protections. The government has committed to a consultation on this subject, and I am looking at my own local consultation to feed into that.
Other recent progress includes requiring tech firms to remove abusive images within 48 hours and closing loopholes by including AI chatbots in safety regulations.
The Grenfell Tower Annual Report was also published last week. It revealed that approximately 70% of the inquiry’s recommendations are on track for completion by the end of the year. Furthermore, work to replace unsafe aluminium composite materials is now 91% complete.
A poignant Backbench Business debate also highlighted support for bereaved children. Starting this September, schools will be required to teach new content on coping strategies for bereavement, helping to normalize discussions about loss and ensuring children know how to access specialist mental health professionals.
To bolster the economy, MPs passed the Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill, enhancing support for sectors like steel, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Finally for the week, the Post Office Green Paper announced a £663 million investment. This funding is designated to modernize branches and, crucially, deliver a technology transformation that will finally replace the Horizon system and move away from Fujitsu.
After the Horizon Scandal, not only must culture and engagement with postmasters be prioritised by Post Office leadership, but trust must also be rebuilt across the network and with consumers.