Government Urged to Uphold Vital Education Plans for Children with Special Needs
The UK government is facing significant pressure from campaigners, charities, and parents to maintain the current education, health, and care (EHC) plans for children and young people with special needs and disabilities (SEND). These EHC plans are legally binding documents that guarantee essential support for children facing educational challenges. Fears are mounting that a potential abolition of these plans could jeopardize the educational future of thousands of vulnerable children, potentially leading to a loss of access to crucial educational provisions or even their education altogether.
The Department for Education has acknowledged the current system’s difficulties, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson describing it as having been “left on its knees.” When questioned about the possibility of scrapping EHC plans on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Phillipson referred to the matter as a “complex and sensitive area” without explicitly ruling out such a move. This ambiguity has fueled concerns among advocacy groups.
In a powerful open letter published in The Guardian, a coalition of prominent figures, including charity leaders, university professors, SEND parents (such as actress Sally Phillips), and well-known campaigners like broadcaster Chris Packham, voiced their strong opposition to any changes that would weaken existing protections. They emphasized that the “right to an education, health, and care plan must be retained” and that “whatever the Send system’s problems, the answer is not to remove the rights of children and young people.” The signatories stressed that “families cannot afford to lose these precious legal protections.”
The government has stated that full details of proposed reforms are expected in October. However, they maintain that no definitive decisions have been made regarding the future of EHC plans. A spokesperson for the Department for Education has categorically denied any intentions to abolish SEND tribunals or reduce funding and support for children, families, and schools. They asserted that any suggestion of a loss of funding or support would be “totally inaccurate.”
Despite these assurances, the shadow education minister, Neil O’Brien, has voiced strong criticism of the current administration, accusing them of a pattern of “broken promises and U-turns.” He pointed to instances where the government had failed to meet its pledges, such as increasing teacher numbers and not raising taxes on working individuals. O’Brien’s comments highlight a perceived lack of trust in the government’s commitment to educational reform.
Recent data from the Department for Education reveals a growing reliance on EHC plans. In January 2025, there were 638,745 EHC plans in effect, marking a significant increase of 10.8% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the number of new plans initiated during 2024 saw a substantial rise of 15.8% from the prior year, reaching 97,747. The number of requests for EHC assessments also climbed by 11.8% in 2023, totaling 154,489.
This surge in demand underscores the critical role EHC plans play in supporting children with special needs. The ongoing debate centers on how to reform the system to make it more efficient and effective, while crucially preserving the legal safeguards and essential support that these plans provide to thousands of families across the country.