UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ministers plan SEND reforms that could require stricter evidence for EHCPs, raising fears of reduced support for children with special needs.
As reported by The Telegraph, government reforms may require experts to gather stronger evidence before children with special needs receive customised support plans in schools.
Officials are reviewing the current SEND system and may scrap personalised education plans for pupils with SEND as part of reforms to reshape the framework.
The Government fears that the rising number of EHCPs is putting pressure on the high-needs budget without delivering effective support for children.
What did a Whitehall source say about EHCP flaws?
According to a Whitehall source, the EHCP system lacks a strong evidence base and consumes experts’ time with excessive paperwork instead of direct support.
They said,
“That’s one of the big flaws in the current system, that yes, you have lots of professionals, but the professionals’ time is being focused on bureaucracy over meeting children’s needs, really understanding them, and identifying what they need.”
They added,
“What we are doing now is looking at how we improve the system, protect what is currently in place and make it better [and] more evidence-based to put in the right support that a child needs.”
How many children now receive EHCPs in England?
EHCP numbers have doubled since 2014. This rise is largely due to more diagnoses of autism and mental health conditions like ADHD.
A record 639,000 children in England now have an EHCP, with 270 new plans issued daily, almost double the 148 awarded per day in 2019.
What did Suzy Yardley say about protecting EHCP rights?
Suzy Yardley, the CEO of Child Autism UK, said,
“I’m sure that there is bureaucracy, but … you need to keep the legal rights for children in place while looking at how to streamline that.”
She stated,
“There are several professionals that feed into each EHCP, it’s not something that parents get on request. It involves the school, it involves educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and the majority of them are employed by the local authority.”
Ms Yardley added,
“There’s no problem looking at reforms and looking at improving the system, but you can’t take away the legal backstop – that legal backstop has to remain no matter what.”
What did Anna Bird say about the EHCP process?
Anna Bird, head of the charity Contact, warned that disability support groups are deeply concerned the Government is ignoring sector concerns.
She added,
“We know that the EHCP process is the single evidence-based route to getting support, and we cannot afford to lose that. Anything else is a gamble.”
What did Number 10 say about the rise in EHCPs?
On 7 July, a No 10 spokesman, asked if rising EHCPs for conditions like ADHD are seen as unsustainable by the Prime Minister, responded,
“I think I’ll just go back to the broader point that the system is not working and is in desperate need of reform.”
While declining to dismiss the possibility of reducing personalised education plans, the spokesman stated,
“It would be inaccurate to suggest that children, families and schools might experience any loss of funding or support because of this.”
What did Helen Hayes say about protecting EHCPs?
Helen Hayes, chair of the education select committee, called on ministers to protect EHCPs to maintain the trust of families with SEND children.
She added,
“I think at this stage that would be the right thing to do. We have been looking, as the education select committee, at the SEND system for the last several months. We have heard extensive evidence from parents, from organisations that represent parents, from professionals and from others who are deeply involved in the system, which is failing so many children and families at the moment.”
What did the Department for Education say about SEND reforms?
A Department for Education spokesman said,
“The evidence is clear that this Government inherited a SEND system left on its knees, which is why we are looking at changes to improve support for children and stop parents having to fight for help.”
They stated,
“We have been clear that there are no plans to abolish SEND tribunals, or to remove funding or support from children, families and schools.”
The spokesman added,
“This Government is actively working with parents and experts on the solutions, including more early intervention to prevent needs from escalating and £740 million to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools. As part of our plan for change, we will restore the confidence of families up and down the country and deliver the improvement they are crying out for so every child can achieve and thrive.”
Key facts about EHCPs
- EHCPs total: 638,745 in Jan 2025 (up 10.8%)
- New in 2024: 97,747 (up 15.8%)
- On time: Only 46.4% met the 20-week deadline
- Appeals: 13,700 made; 98% favoured families