Major Overhaul of SEND System in England Announced
Significant changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) framework in England have been unveiled, with projections indicating that approximately 270,000 fewer children will receive Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) under the new regulations. The revised system will specifically target EHCPs towards pupils with particularly severe or complex needs, marking a substantial shift in how support is allocated across the country's educational institutions.
Projected Decline in EHCP Numbers
According to Labour Party analysis, the number of EHCPs is forecast to experience a rapid decline following the implementation of the new system. Current estimates suggest that the proportion of pupils with EHCPs will drop from a peak of nearly 8% in the 2029-30 academic year to under 5% by 2034-35. This reduction translates to around 270,000 fewer children receiving these comprehensive support plans, fundamentally altering the landscape of special educational needs provision in England.
Education Secretary's Statement on System Reform
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed the changes in a statement released on Monday, emphasizing that the current SEND system, designed a decade ago for a limited number of children, is now fundamentally broken. "Parents end up fighting tooth and nail for entitlements on paper that don't see them getting additional support," Phillipson stated. "Children's educations and lives have suffered as a result of this inadequate framework."
Phillipson outlined the government's vision for the reformed system, asserting that "today's plans will take children with SEND from sidelined and excluded to seen, heard and included." She pledged that every child would receive "the brilliant support they deserve, when they need it, as routine and without a fight," signaling a move toward more accessible and equitable support mechanisms.
Preservation of EHCPs for Most Complex Needs
The Education Secretary confirmed that EHCPs will remain available for children with the most complex needs, with these plans being "guided by nationally defined, and evidence-based specialist provision packages." Phillipson stressed that early intervention is crucial, announcing that the government's "best start hubs" for younger children will now also encompass SEND support services.
Investment in Support Infrastructure
A substantial investment of £200 million has been allocated to these hubs to ensure that more facilities have dedicated SEND professionals on staff. Phillipson acknowledged the "heroic efforts of staff" but noted that "the disadvantage gap is still wide, children with SEND are sidelined and bright children from ordinary families are still not achieving all that they should."
She criticized the current education system for working "well for some children but not all," adding that "when it comes to opportunities, background still counts for too much and hard work too little." The reforms aim to address these systemic inequalities by creating a more responsive and inclusive support structure for children with special educational needs across England.
