Secretary of State for Education meets with Changing Realities
Published: 28 April 2026
The UK’s Secretary of State for Education met with parents and carers struggling with life on a low-income while parenting children with SEND
The UK’s Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, met with parents and carers struggling with life on a low-income while parenting children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).
The meeting is part of an ongoing discussion about how to get SEND reform right, particularly for the millions of UK families who are living on low incomes.
The meeting between Changing Realities - a research project led by the University of Glasgow - and Bridget Phillipson explored how to recognise and act upon the intersection of SEND and poverty, including the best approach to tackling the multiple challenges that so many families face.
Changing Realities has previously engaged with the development of the Schools White Paper, holding two earlier meetings with the Secretary of State for Education in 2025, and participating in roundtables with the Schools Standards Minister for School Standards in January 2026, and a private meeting with the Schools Minister in February 2026.
Making education work for every child is a generation’s work, and Changing Realities are delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with those at the highest level of UK Government to try and get it right.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: "Our schools white paper is transforming the education system so that every child receives the right support and has the chance to get on in life, driven by the belief that your background shouldn’t determine what you go on to achieve.
"I won’t tolerate a system that’s adversarial or too complex to navigate and that’s why our reforms are focused on removing bureaucracy, breaking down barriers to inclusion and ensuring every family can easily access specialist support within their community.
"The conversation doesn’t stop here and we’re continuing to work in partnership with families across the country, so everyone has confidence in the system we’re building.”
Jo, who is a participant with Changing Realities, said: "It is such a refreshing and amazing experience to be invited in and listened to by government over the importance of getting SEND reform right. Our kids only get one childhood that shapes their lives forever. It is pivotal the system improves by listening to people with lived experience, who know the impact of not getting it right."
Changing Realities played a key part in shaping the UK’s Child Poverty Strategy, which aims to lift around 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030 - the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began. Their contribution received praise from UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer, who invited them to meet him at 10 Downing Street last December.
The strategy found that children growing up in poverty do less well in school, are more likely to be unemployed when older and earn less throughout their lifetimes. Failure to tackle this problem has been holding back the economy, as well as stifling children’s potential.
Professor Ruth Patrick, who leads Changing Realities at the University of Glasgow, said: "This meeting was a valuable chance to build upon the wider work undertaken between the government and Changing Realities, which showcases and explores the importance and value of involving lived experiences and expertise at the heart of policy making.
"Parents and carers who take part in Changing Realities are keen to be involved in dialogue about policy solutions, and to be in the room when decisions that affect their lives and those of people in similar circumstances are made.
"Whilst they bring substantial expertise, pragmatism and commitment to these conversations, they don’t want their contributions to be restricted to discussions about their personal experiences. They are at the forefront of piloting innovative approaches to participatory policymaking, and welcomed the opportunity to do this with the Department for Education on SEND reform. We will only get the massive task of SEND reform right if we make sure to draw on the expertise that parents of children with special educational needs hold.
"We hope to work collaboratively with the DfE to improve SEND provision for the future, a massive task, but one with incredible potential to truly transform lives. We are hugely proud of the work that the parents we work with do, and are grateful to the Secretary of State for her continued engagement with Changing Realities."
First published: 28 April 2026