A recent report has highlighted the necessity for the Government to create a new statutory category of support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This recommendation comes from a SEND taskforce established by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which advocates for a revamped system of additional learning support within schools.
The taskforce suggests that education and health care plans (EHCPs) should be restructured and managed by local authorities for those with the most complex needs. It emphasizes that existing EHCPs, which are essential legal documents outlining the support required for SEND students, must be preserved. This ensures that no child loses their EHCP until families experience “significantly better support” through comprehensive reforms.
This announcement follows the Government”s recent decision to postpone the release of its Schools White Paper on SEND reforms until early next year. Geoff Barton, former general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and current chair of the IPPR”s inclusion taskforce, stated that having a statutory category of support would provide “important reassurance for parents.” Concerns have been raised regarding potential reductions in EHCPs under the Government”s reforms, although education minister Georgia Gould has assured that there will always be a legal right to additional support for SEND students.
When asked whether successful reforms might decrease the number of EHCPs issued, Barton acknowledged that they could. He emphasized that if a child has been granted an EHCP, it should not be revoked without considering alternative support routes. The taskforce”s proposal for a statutory additional learning support system aims to identify learning barriers as early as possible in a child”s life and find solutions locally. Barton noted that for approximately 50% of SEND children, speech and language issues serve as significant obstacles to learning. He suggested that utilizing local expertise in speech and language therapies could provide timely support, reducing the wait for an EHCP, which can sometimes exceed a year.
The taskforce also urged that any reforms be matched with increased government investment in early intervention, including enhanced funding for SEND professionals in schools and improved teacher training. Margaret Mulholland, a SEND and inclusion specialist at ASCL, emphasized the importance of addressing “insufficient core funding” in schools to ensure the success of any new SEND system. She indicated that families view EHCPs as a legal guarantee of support for their children, and any new approach must secure their confidence.
The IPPR established its inclusion taskforce over the summer to address the crisis within the SEND system. Research revealed that one in 14 young people faced waits exceeding a year for an EHCP in 2024. Furthermore, the number of EHCP assessments conducted by local authorities surged by 250% from 2013 to 2024. Last year, fewer than half of EHCPs were issued within the statutory timeframe of 20 weeks. In Leeds, for instance, over half of the young individuals waited more than a year for an EHCP in 2024.
A representative from Leeds City Council noted ongoing investments aimed at reducing the time required for assessments, which had already led to a 117% increase in EHCP completions in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. In regions such as Kirklees and Leicestershire, 46.2% and 44.6% of EHCPs respectively were issued after more than a year. A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council reported that additional resources have decreased processing times to an average of 24 weeks, with efforts continuing to improve this further.
Similarly, Kirklees Council indicated that it has doubled the number of EHCPs issued within the 20-week timeframe, exceeding the national average, and a recent SEND inspection confirmed it now has “effective oversight” of new plans. Across other regions, at least one in five young people had to wait over a year for their EHCP last year in 14 additional councils. However, in 86 out of 150 local authorities, only 1% or fewer young people experienced waits exceeding a year.
Researchers suggested that factors such as poverty, the Covid-19 pandemic, and cuts to support services might contribute to the increasing demand for SEND support. Barton underscored the need for careful consideration in reforming the system, advocating for cross-party agreement and a clear timeline for the proposed changes. Baroness Morgan, a member of the IPPR inclusion taskforce and former education secretary, argued that merely “tinkering around the edges” will not suffice to provide an excellent education for all children, particularly those with additional needs.
A spokesperson from the Department for Education stated that it is unacceptable for parents to be “forced to fight for every scrap of support.” They mentioned that work is already in progress to ensure that support is provided routinely and at the earliest stages, which includes enhanced training for teachers, a £740 million investment to create more specialist school places, earlier intervention for speech and language needs, and embedding SEND leads in family hubs across local areas.
