Hundreds of thousands of English schoolchildren with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) face the prospect of major changes to their support in schools. A shake-up is being considered by government officials, who are reportedly weighing up plans to alter or replace Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). These statutory documents currently ensure children receive tailored help for conditions like autism spectrum disorder and mental health issues.
Schools minister Catherine McKinnell has acknowledged the current system's limitations. Officials are working on a new framework for SEND support, but McKinnell stopped short of ruling out narrowing or replacing EHCPs entirely. The proposed changes could be the most significant overhaul since 2014 and have already drawn opposition from parents, charities, and legal professionals.
EHCPs are crucial as they specify individual needs. Without them, schools are only required to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, rather than providing specialist support. For many families in mainstream state schools – where most SEND pupils are educated – an EHCP is essential for securing vital help.
The government's motivations appear to stem from concerns over the financial sustainability of the current system. The National Audit Office reported a 140% surge in EHCPs since 2015, resulting in local councils running deficits exceeding £100 million. McKinnell claims the goal is to offer “better support at the earliest stage possible,” but critics argue that the existing system – inherited by the government – is failing in this regard.
The Department for Education's strategic adviser on SEND, Dame Christine Lenehan, has questioned whether EHCPs remain the best way forward. Meanwhile, the government recently announced a £3 million expansion of its Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) scheme, which places speech and language specialists in nurseries and schools to identify SEND needs earlier.
Over 576,000 children and young people in England held an EHCP as of January last year. However, government statistics reveal that only half of new plans were issued on time, leaving hundreds of families waiting for more than a year for the support they need.