Parents Rank Lack of SEND Support as Primary Concern in UK Schools
A comprehensive new survey has revealed that parents across the United Kingdom consider the lack of adequate support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to be the most pressing issue affecting schools today. The findings, published in the Parent Voice Project's report titled How Schools Work for Every Child, highlight a significant disparity in satisfaction levels, particularly among parents whose children do not have the protection of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Widespread Dissatisfaction and Tool Deficits
The report, based on the largest representative survey of its kind, indicates that 41 per cent of parents of children with SEND identify insufficient SEND provision as a top-tier issue impacting school children nationally. While half of all parents believe it is important for children with SEND to be educated in mainstream schools, only 52 per cent of surveyed parents feel that teachers in these settings possess the appropriate tools to effectively support SEND pupils.
This confidence figure plummets dramatically to just 38 per cent among parents of children with SEND who lack an EHCP, underscoring a critical gap in perceived support. The survey underscores that formal recognition through an EHCP substantially shapes parental confidence, with 61 per cent of parents whose children have both SEND and an EHCP expressing belief that teachers are well-equipped.
The EHCP Divide and Parental Experiences
Parents of children with SEND but no EHCP emerged as the least satisfied group in the study. Their experiences, detailed in focus groups, often involve a stark contrast between initial reassurances from schools and the harsh reality of delayed support, high staff turnover, and shifting responsibilities. One mother from Oldham, with a 14-year-old child with SEND, recounted being promised comprehensive support only to face inaction and administrative churn.
Conversely, the data shows that parents of children with SEND who hold an EHCP report no statistically significant difference in satisfaction compared to parents of children without SEND. This suggests that the presence of a formal plan can lead to more positive school interactions. A mother from Weston-super-Mare noted that before her child received an EHCP, securing help was a constant battle, with schools citing funding shortages. After obtaining the plan, she gained leverage to demand accountability.
Government Reforms and Future Projections
These findings arrive at a pivotal moment, following Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's announcement of sweeping reforms to the SEND system earlier this year. Phillipson criticized the current framework as "broken," noting it was designed a decade ago for a small cohort and now forces parents into arduous fights for entitlements that often fail to materialize into tangible support.
Official modelling forecasts a dramatic shift: under the new system, the number of EHCPs is projected to decline from nearly 8 per cent of pupils in 2029-30 to less than 5 per cent by 2034-35. This represents a reduction of approximately 270,000 young people receiving plans by 2035—a drop of over 40 per cent from current projections.
The backdrop to these changes includes a significant surge in EHCP issuances, which have escalated from 353,995 in 2019 to 638,745 in January of last year. This rise has contributed to prolonged wait times for support and placed considerable financial strain on local councils, leading to substantial deficits. The report's insights are poised to weigh heavily on policymakers as they navigate these complex reforms aimed at overhauling a system under immense pressure.
