Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026
Letter from Chair to Secretary of State on accountability session follow up dated 14.07.26
From: Education Committee
Summary
Chair Helen Hayes writes to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson following a June 2026 accountability evidence session, raising three outstanding issues: SEND Tribunal powers to bind health and social care providers; VAT on further education colleges; and maintenance support for care-leavers in higher education. The letter requests written responses by 1 September, noting government and departmental positions that differ from committee recommendations.
Key findings
- SEND Tribunals lack legal power to bind health and social care bodies to recommendations, creating inconsistent provision and accountability gaps; the Department for Health and Social Care resists extending tribunal powers despite education's dependence on health services for SEND outcomes.
- The Secretary of State committed in December 2025 to review VAT on further education colleges with the Treasury, but no clear decision has emerged six months later; the committee seeks an update on progress and timeline.
- Care-experienced university students are 38% more likely to drop out; the committee proposes automatic eligibility for Long Course Loans as a means to extend year-round maintenance support beyond current limits.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
special-educational-needshigher-educationfurther-educationstudent-financeaccountability
Key actors
Helen Hayes MP, Bridget Phillipson MP, Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care, Prime Minister
Notable line
“… health services are "a critical enabler of positive educational outcomes for children with SEND".”
Key Quotes
“… health services are "a critical enabler of positive educational outcomes for children with SEND".”
“"Health's view would be that it would be unusual to make the distinction here about mandating the delivery of health provision in a way that you would not in areas beyond the provision of special educational needs".”
“… care-experienced students face, which mean they are 38% more likely to drop-out of university.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗