Reforms, resources, rumours – what is the future of SEND support for disabled children, young people and their families?
There’s been recent speculation about potential changes to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) – and understandably, this is causing concern and uncertainty for many families.
Our CEO Katie Ghose shares what we know so far, what remains uncertain and what we’re doing to make sure the voices of families are heard loud and clear.
Recently, a number of headlines and rumours have suggested that Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) – a vital support mechanism for thousands of disabled children and young people – could be scrapped or significantly scaled back as part of the Government’s upcoming SEND reforms.
Understandably, this has caused considerable concern and uncertainty for many families for whom a plan sets out the practical support and essential tools for their child’s development, for example sessions with an occupational therapist or help with speech and language.
Thankfully, yesterday, the Chancellor confirmed in the Spending Review that details of the Government’s plans for to SEND reform will be set out in a Schools white paper in the autumn. Where does that leave young people and families who are on waiting lists now and wondering what support will be there for them the in future? How can we all raise our voices to shape the reforms to make them deliver meaningful change?
What we know
Recent media reports have raised concerns that EHCPs might be restricted, especially for young people over the age of 18. Now the Government has committed to publish its proposals in the autumn, we should expect a comprehensive vision of what reform will look like; the scale and shape of their ambitions for how the state should support children with additional needs from birth to 25. Following the publication of the proposals, there must be further engagement and consultation on the details, with legislation to follow next year.
The Spending Review included commitments on SEND including Transformation Funds that are earmarked for ‘reform of the Send system to improve pupil outcomes’ (£547m in 2026/27; £213 in 2027/28). Can families be assured that every penny of the ‘extra’ will go directly to children with additional needs? Money for breakfast clubs and mental health could transform experiences for pupils with SEND, provided that meeting their needs is considered and resourced upfront. Lessons from current breakfast club pilots about how disabled children are being fully included must inform the national roll-out.
Above all, the white paper must show how the money will fit the vision. How will the reforms be financed and sustained? How will the Government avoid the pitfalls of the last major reforms (The Children and Families Act) when inadequate resourcing hampered implementation, for example for 18-25 year olds who were promised fresh support, which has largely not come to fruition, leaving many hanging on a ‘cliff edge’.
Funding is desperately needed for the many things that bolster an early year’s setting or school’s ability to make a child belong and feel included – occupational therapists, educational psychologists, the short breaks. Schools must be confident that the reforms and the resources will set them – and every child with SEND – up to succeed.
“The Government has committed to publish its proposals in the autumn, we should expect a comprehensive vision of what reform will look like; the scale and shape of their ambitions for how the state should support children with additional needs from birth to 25. “
What remains unclear
Given the complexity of the SEND landscape and interdependencies of departments and agencies involved, it remains unclear how the funding announced in the Spending Review will work to transform the life of every child with SEND, and what other pots of money will be available. Good health care – physical and mental – is essential for many disabled children to attend and play a full part in school life.
Families will be looking for evidence that the NHS wants to be a full partner in a reformed SEND system, ready to step up with allocated funds and a willingness to work alongside schools, social care, young people and families. Across the board successful reform will rely not only on resourcing but clear accountability and straightforward actions open to families and practitioners when things go wrong.
What is happening ‘on the ground’
It’s clear that the current SEND system is under huge pressure. Families are stuck on long waiting lists, schools are struggling with limited resources, and services like speech and language therapy are stretched far too thin. This is one reason why families felt frightened by the recent media reports – including comments from special adviser Dame Christine Lenehan – that EHCPs might be restricted, including for young people over the age of 18.
Without any clues about how a reformed system will support early identification, meeting of needs, or guarantee their child’s right to an education or the support they require to learn, parents, campaigners and professionals are rightly speaking out. Any move to remove or limit EHCPs without a well-funded and properly resourced alternative would have serious and far-reaching consequences for their child’s life – their opportunities to enjoy the ordinary things like making friends, having adventures and learning new things.
In my recent conversation with The Guardian, representing the Disabled Children’s Partnership as their Vice-Chair, I explained that hundreds of thousands of children rely on these plans to go to school safely and learn. Without that, the Government risks sending more children out of school and into a system where their needs are simply not met.
Read the full article in the Guardian below.
Every day, we hear from families at crisis point – waiting years for support and feeling immense guilt just for trying to give their child a fair chance. In a recent interview with Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5, it was a privilege to hear from two parents about the maze they had to navigate and their utter determination – like every other parent – to nurture their child’s strengths and talents whatever it takes. I explained that many parents have told me that their children would be lost without an EHCP, and that it’s the only reason their child is able to attend school at all.
You can listen to the full broadcast by clicking the link below and starting at 1:05.
“Many parents have told me that their children would be lost without an EHCP, and that it’s the only reason their child is able to attend school at all.”
What is our view?
EHCPs aren’t the problem – they are a lifeline for many children and families.
They serve as legal guarantees of support, enabling children to access vital services such as communication aids, 1:1 help in class, access to therapies, and specialist medical care. It can be the difference between inclusion and isolation.
As I shared with The i Paper, if children don’t have, for example their speech and language needs met, they might withdraw from learning. That could result in an increase in behaviours in class, leading to a more challenging atmosphere, through no fault of the children or the teacher.
Reform is required, including to the processes before, during and after securing a plan. After all, many plans, once agreed, do not always lead to the support being put in place.
Read the full article in The i Paper below.
The Government has talked about the need to regear the system to early identification, a direction we fully support. Now the White Paper is imminent we look forward to seeing the detail of how guaranteed early, timely support can become an ordinary experience for every child with additional needs. Rumours about the future of education, health and care plans were a flawed – and hopefully – false start.
Now we all have a big opportunity to shape reforms with heart, reforms with teeth, and above all reforms that are woven through with the expertise of disabled children, young people and their parents, grandparents, siblings and carers.