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SEND Crisis: Record child support plans issued
25 Jun
Summary
- Children with EHCPs rose 12.5% to over 700,000.
- Less than half of plans were issued within the 20-week timeframe.
- Reforms aim to shift to individual support plans by 2030.
The number of children receiving support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has surged to a new record high, with over 700,000 children now holding Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). This represents a significant 12.5% year-on-year increase.
Despite this rise, the timely issuance of EHCPs has declined, with less than half meeting the 20-week statutory deadline. This delay causes considerable stress for families like Karen Quinn's, whose son Adam faces transition to secondary school without timely support.
In response to these escalating needs, the government is investing £4 billion to enhance support within mainstream schools. Reforms planned for 2030 aim to transition from EHCPs to individual support plans (ISPs), reserving EHCPs for the most complex cases, a move that has raised concerns among families and advocates about potential loss of rights.
