White paper on overhaul of Send provision in England put back to 2026

Ministers say they are eager to avoid the sort of rebellion by MPs that derailed attempts to reform disability benefits earlier this year. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

The government is to delay publishing its long-awaited overhaul of special educational needs provision in England as ministers seek to build a coalition among parents to support its changes.

The schools white paper, which had been expected to be published this autumn, will not appear until early in the new year, according to a letter from the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, to the chair of the Commons education select committee, Helen Hayes.