26th August 2025

• There are worrying signs that the government could be looking to scale back the use of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans*.

  Over the past ten years, successive governments have reviewed the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system with the aim of reforming it. Previous reviews under the Conservatives led to little change. In recent months, however, ministers have hinted that they are thinking of limiting access to, or even phasing out, EHC plans.

  Cost is clearly a factor here. Since EHC plans were introduced in 2014, the number of children with these plans has more than doubled. Spending on high needs children has also increased by about 60 per cent. Council leaders have warned that the system is pushing local authorities towards bankruptcy.

  The government has announced that proposals to reform the SEND system will be published in the autumn. Ministers have indicated that they want to focus on putting more money into early intervention and improving SEN support in mainstream schools. Whilst they haven’t yet announced any details in relation to EHC plans, their refusal to rule out scaling back or abolishing them speaks volumes – and it’s making parents very, very worried. A parliamentary petition on the issue (www.saveourchildrensrights.org.uk) has received more than 120,000 signatures.

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  What parents need to know

  No changes yet – The law on EHC plans remains exactly the same, and it’s unlikely to change in the short term. The government hasn’t even published its official proposals yet – these will come in the autumn. So, if you think your child needs an EHC plan, don’t let anyone put you off applying.

  Political pressure matters – There’s a strong chance ministers will back down from reducing access to EHC plans if there’s a risk of backbench revolt. The government may be keen to avoid another backlash like the one that scuppered their plans to cut disability benefits earlier this year.

  Legal changes take time – Reforming the SEND system would require a new law, and that process is slow. A bill must pass through several stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. For example, the Children and Families Act 2014 – which underpins the current SEND system – took three years to move from initial consultation to becoming law.

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  *Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans are for children and young people aged 0-25 years who require more support than is typically available in mainstream settings. They describe a pupil’s special educational, health, and social care needs, along with the support required to meet those needs. EHC plans are legally binding – the provision described in them must be made. More information