The overhaul of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in England has sparked a mixed reaction from parents, with some relieved that immediate disruption is being prevented and others concerned that children with more complex needs may fall through the gaps. The government's reforms, announced by Bridget Phillipson, aim to improve inclusion for children with special needs within mainstream educational environments.
For families like Becky's, who have a child with multiple disabilities including cerebral palsy and blindness registered in a special school, the main relief is that their child will not be forced to leave their current setting. "Cautious optimism" was how Becky described her response to the reforms, acknowledging the government's engagement with parent consultations as a positive step forward.
The proposed changes include new initiatives to enhance inclusion for children with special needs within mainstream educational environments and restrictions on qualifying for the highest tier of support from 2030. Children currently in special schools will retain their existing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), but approximately one in eight children with EHCPs is predicted to transition to new individual support plans between 2030 and 2035.
Organisations have raised concerns about the practicality and implementation of the reforms. Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, stressed that limiting EHCPs to only those with the most complex needs hinges on mainstream schools becoming truly inclusive – a detail she argues remains largely undefined and unproven at scale.
Parents like May Race, whose 12-year-old son has autism, ADHD, and dyslexia and has been out of school for over a year despite having an EHCP, are among those who doubt that their child will benefit from the changes. Cheryl Garner, whose non-verbal autistic daughter requires extensive support and travels 50 miles to school due to local provision gaps, welcomed the retention of EHCPs but feared that the changes may not address the needs of children with more profound physical and complex disabilities.