Ahead of significant government reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system, a stark new survey reveals deep-seated anxiety among parents, with many fearing crucial support for their children could be diminished. The poll, conducted by the disability charity Sense, underscores the profound personal and financial toll the current system is taking on families across the nation.
Survey Reveals Widespread Parental Anxiety
The research, which surveyed 1,000 parents of children with Send, found that 47 per cent are concerned that vital support could be reduced as they await details of the impending government overhaul. This sentiment is compounded by the finding that half (50 per cent) of parents explicitly stated they feel nervous about the upcoming reforms. Furthermore, nearly half (48 per cent) reported that the process of securing their child's current support had been intensely stressful.
Families Forced to Make Drastic Career Changes
The impact on family life and employment is severe. More than a third of parents (35 per cent) disclosed they had been compelled to leave their jobs entirely due to a lack of appropriate support for their child. An additional 40 per cent indicated they had no choice but to reduce their working hours, placing significant financial strain on households and limiting career progression.
Reforms Focus on Education, Health and Care Plans
These findings emerge just ahead of the government's anticipated Schools White Paper, expected early this year, which will set out plans for a major overhaul of the Send system. Much of the speculation and concern has centred on potential changes to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). These are legal documents designed to guarantee tailored support for young people with Send.
The rapidly growing number of EHCPs has led to escalating costs for local authorities. This financial pressure has prompted some to advocate for legislative changes that would restrict these plans to only the highest-need cases, a prospect that has generated considerable apprehension among the Send parent community.
Charity Chief Warns of 'Devastating' Consequences
James Watson-O'Neill, chief executive of Sense, issued a stark warning. "A shocking number of children are being failed by a baffling and underfunded Send system. Too many are falling through the cracks – at the cost of their happiness, wellbeing and future life chances," he said. "So it’s little surprise that parents feel deep anxiety and distrust about the upcoming education reforms. If their children’s legal rights are weakened any further or there’s an attempt to cut spending, the consequences could be devastating."
A Mother's Personal Ordeal with the EHCP System
The human cost of the system's delays is powerfully illustrated by the experience of Kimberly Hind, mother to five-year-old Harvey, who is deaf-blind. The family waited over a year for his EHCP to be finalised. During this limbo, Harvey lost a place at a special school and struggled at a mainstream nursery that lacked the capacity to meet his complex needs.
"He was getting extremely distressed about going into nursery, to the point I had to give up my job to focus on caring for him," Mrs Hind told the Press Association. This left the family of five reliant solely on her husband's income and her carer’s allowance. Harvey finally started at a special school in September 2025 after receiving his final EHCP in February.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Mrs Hind said, "The ordeal we went through to get Harvey’s EHCP, which he was fully entitled to, was horrific for him and our whole family." While she acknowledges the system needs reform to be more responsive, she expressed being "extremely concerned" about any potential changes to the funding her son receives.
Government Pledges and Existing Challenges
Education minister Georgia Gould has previously sought to reassure families, stating there "will always be a legal right to additional support" for young people with Send. The government has also announced substantial investments, including £200 million for teacher training in Send support and £3 billion to create around 50,000 new school places for Send children.
However, these pledges come against a backdrop of significant systemic challenges. A Send taskforce established by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) previously found that in 2024, one in 14 young people waited longer than a year to be issued an EHCP. This delay exacerbates the stress on families and can critically disrupt a child's education and development during their most formative years.
As the government finalises its reform plans, the message from thousands of Send parents is clear: any changes must strengthen, not weaken, the vital support network upon which their children's futures depend.
