Early Years Minister Stephen Morgan has said that Labour is "working closely" with its MPs on plans to reform the current system for supporting children with special educational needs.

Speaking to GB News, Morgan stated that the Government are hoping to "deliver reform to make sure the system is fit for the future".

"We inherited a system which was failing families and failing vulnerable children," Morgan told GB News.

He added: "The previous Government said the system was lose, lose, lose. We know it's broken, and that's why we're working really hard to make sure the system is fit for the future."

Stephen Morgan has defended Bridget Phillipson's reforms for special educational needs amid potential backbench rebellion

On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said Labour was committed to reforming help for children with learning difficulties or disabilities, but refused to guarantee that parents would retain the right to ensure their children receive bespoke support for their needs.

Morgan outlined several funding initiatives for education, including £1billion allocated to high needs funding last year.

He told GB News: "Our priority is to get it right at the right place for every child. We’ve put more money in to SEND, we've put more money in for capital so more places in mainstream settings as well.

"Our Best Start centres, there will be dedicated professionals in those centres to support children with SEND.

"The money is going in, the investments going in, and we want to deliver the reform to make sure the system is fit for the future."

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson told GB News she is 'determined to invest more in state education'

Morgan stressed that early detection and support for children with special educational needs would be central to the Government's approach: "In my brief it's really important that early identification and intervention on SEND will make a big difference, and that is a key part of the work that we are doing."

"We are listening carefully to what parents say to make sure we do everything we possibly can to deliver the right support in the right place," Morgan stated.

On reports of another backbench rebellion on the issue, he told GB News: "Well, all Labour MPs are on a platform to reform the SEND system. We're working closely with them, and there's been lots of debates in Parliament.

"Bridget Phillipson is listening carefully to what MPs have to say, as am I. It's really clear to me that early identification and intervention on SEND makes a big difference.

"There's lots we can learn from good practice across the country, in particular in nurseries, and we really want people to contribute to this review to make sure we get it right for the future."

Morgan told GB News that parents agree the current system 'isn't working'

The minister highlighted the role of Best Start centres in supporting children with special educational needs.

"Our Best Start centres, there will be dedicated professionals in those centres to support children with SEND," Morgan explained.

He acknowledged parents' frustrations with the current system: "I talk to parents all the time, obviously in my own constituency, on visits than I do, and those that write to me and they would agree that the system just isn't working at the moment."

"Our priority is to get it right at the right place for every child. We will set up more detail in the white paper later this year, but parents will recognise the system is broken. We want to work with them to get it right for the future."