New government figures reveal a significant increase in the number of children and young people receiving special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support across England. The data shows a 12.5% rise in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) between January 2025 and January 2026, marking the highest yearly increase since these legal documents were introduced over a decade ago. The total number of individuals with EHCPs now exceeds 700,000.
EHCPs are critical legal documents that outline the specific support children and young people, up to the age of 25, are entitled to. These plans are typically sought by families whose children require more extensive support than what mainstream schools can usually provide. During the 2025 calendar year alone, more than 110,000 new plans were issued, reflecting a growing demand for specialist educational and health interventions.
Despite the surge in new plans, the efficiency of the system appears to be under strain. The proportion of EHCPs issued within the statutory 20-week timeframe has slightly decreased, with less than half of plans now being finalised on schedule. This delay can have profound implications for families, as highlighted by Karen Quinn, who is navigating the EHCP process for her 11-year-old autistic son, Adam, ahead of his transition to secondary school. She expressed concerns that any delays would impact his crucial move to high school, emphasising the emotional and practical burden on families.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education (DfE) acknowledged the scale of the challenge, stating that the figures demonstrate the difficulty they inherited. They added that the government is investing £4 billion to integrate specialist support into mainstream schools, aiming to create a system where all schools can effectively support every child. This aligns with recent government plans to reform the SEND system, which includes a greater emphasis on making mainstream schools more inclusive for children with SEND.
The reform proposals, unveiled earlier this year, suggest that from 2030, fewer children will qualify for EHCPs. Instead, all children with SEND, currently numbering over 1.8 million, would receive individual support plans (ISPs), with EHCPs being reserved for those with the most complex needs. While the government maintains this will not diminish legal rights to support, families and campaigners have voiced concerns that such changes could potentially erode existing entitlements. The government's consultation on these reform plans concluded in May, alongside the release of new guidance for establishing inclusion bases in mainstream schools.
Significantly, the number of children and young people with EHCPs attending mainstream schools has increased by over 15% compared to the previous year, with almost half of all EHCP holders now educated in these settings. This trend underscores the evolving landscape of SEND provision and the ongoing efforts to foster greater inclusion within the mainstream education system.