Education Secretary Announces Sweeping Reforms to Send Provision
In a landmark move, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system in England. The reforms are set to dramatically reduce the number of children receiving education, health and care plans (EHCPs), with government modelling forecasting a drop of approximately 270,000 by 2034-35 if pupil numbers remain stable.
New System to Prioritise Severe and Complex Needs
Under the new regime, EHCPs will be reserved exclusively for children with particularly severe or complex needs, such as lifelong learning disabilities, severe behavioural problems, or physical disabilities. This shift is designed to address the rapid escalation in EHCP allocations, which have surged from 240,000 to 640,000 since the system was introduced by the coalition government in 2014.
Phillipson emphasised that the current Send framework is "broken", stating: "Parents end up fighting tooth and nail for entitlements on paper that don't see them getting additional support. Children's educations and lives have suffered." She added that the reforms aim to transform the experience for children with Send, moving them from being "sidelined and excluded to seen, heard and included."
Introduction of Individual Support Plans
Millions of children will instead be provided with new individual support plans (ISPs), which offer a more streamlined set of measures agreed directly with schools. These ISPs may include access to psychologists, therapists, and "inclusion bases" within educational settings. Crucially, ISPs will be administered by schools rather than local authorities, with parents required to appeal to the school itself if dissatisfied, rather than having recourse to a tribunal.
The changes also modify the tribunal process for EHCP disputes. While parents can still appeal denials, tribunals will no longer have the authority to mandate specific school placements, granting local councils greater control over Send education placements.
Financial Implications and Funding Commitments
The overhaul seeks to mitigate a multibillion-pound financial crisis in local authority finances, with the Office for Budget Responsibility projecting a £6 billion deficit within two years. Although officials clarified that the reforms are not primarily aimed at closing this gap immediately, the reduced EHCP numbers are expected to yield long-term savings.
To support the transition, the government has pledged an additional £4 billion in funding, which will be deployed promptly. However, analysts warn that the Treasury may still need to allocate billions more to bail out local authorities by 2028-29, as the Send deficit persists in the short term.
Implementation Timeline and Political Challenges
The plans will undergo a consultation period before legislation is introduced in the next parliamentary session, commencing in May. The first assessments under the new system are scheduled for 2029, with children in year 2 and below currently holding EHCPs being reevaluated upon transitioning to secondary school.
Despite Phillipson's efforts to consult backbench MPs, Labour insiders anticipate potential rebellions over the restrictions on EHCPs, which could spark backlash from parent groups and parliamentarians concerned about reduced support for vulnerable children.
