The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has released a report advocating for the establishment of a new statutory category aimed at providing additional support for young individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within schools. This recommendation comes from a SEND taskforce organized by the IPPR, which suggests overhauling the current education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) to be managed by local authorities specifically for those with the most complex needs.
The taskforce emphasized that existing EHCPs, which outline the support necessary for students with SEND, should remain intact until there is a significant improvement in support for families through comprehensive reforms. This recommendation follows the government”s recent announcement to postpone the release of its Schools White Paper, which includes proposed SEND reforms, until early next year.
Geoff Barton, the former general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and chairman of the IPPR”s inclusion taskforce, described the establishment of a new statutory support category as an “important reassurance for parents.” Concerns have been raised regarding potential reductions in EHCPs under the government”s reform plans. However, education minister Georgia Gould has assured that there will always be a legal right to additional support for students with SEND.
When asked whether successful reforms could lead to a decrease in the number of EHCPs issued, Barton acknowledged that this could be a possibility. He stated, “We”re quite explicit that if a child has been granted an EHCP, then you don”t suddenly start taking that away. Instead, you start thinking about what are the alternative routes?”
The proposed statutory additional learning support aims to identify potential learning barriers as early as possible in a child”s life and address these challenges within their local communities. Barton noted that approximately 50% of children with SEND face difficulties primarily related to speech and language. He suggested that leveraging local expertise in speech and language therapy could help provide timely support, preventing families from waiting extended periods for EHCPs.
The taskforce also called for government investment in early intervention strategies, which would include increased funding for schools to hire SEND professionals and enhance teacher training. Margaret Mulholland, a SEND and inclusion specialist at ASCL, highlighted that addressing the “insufficient core funding” in schools is essential for the success of any new SEND framework. She remarked that families view these plans as legal guarantees of support for their children, indicating that any new approach must earn their trust.
The IPPR”s inclusion taskforce was established to propose solutions to the ongoing crisis within the SEND system. Recent research indicated that one in 14 young people had to wait over a year for their EHCP in 2024. Furthermore, the number of EHCP assessments conducted by local authorities surged by 250% between 2013 and 2024. Last year, only 46.4% of EHCPs were issued within the statutory 20-week timeframe.
In specific areas like Leeds, more than half of young people waited over a year for their EHCPs in 2024. A spokesperson for Leeds City Council stated that efforts are ongoing to reduce assessment times, which have already shown a 117% increase in EHCPs completed in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same timeframe the previous year.
In other regions like Kirklees and Leicestershire, significant percentages of EHCPs were issued after more than a year. However, efforts to enhance resource allocation and streamline processes have led to improvements in these areas. A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council noted that additional resources have cut the average issuance time to 24 weeks over the past year, with ongoing efforts to shorten this further.
Despite these challenges, the report indicates that poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic, and cuts to support services may be contributing factors to the increased demand for SEND support. Barton emphasized the need for careful planning to ensure successful reforms, including fostering cross-party consensus and establishing a timeline for implementation.
Baroness Morgan, a member of the IPPR inclusion taskforce and former education secretary, stated, “Tinkering around the edges of the system will not be enough to give all children, especially those with additional needs, an excellent education.” A spokesperson from the Department for Education (DfE) acknowledged the unacceptable situation where parents feel they must “fight for every scrap of support.” They mentioned ongoing efforts to ensure that support is accessible routinely and at the earliest stages, including improved training for teachers and additional funding to create more specialist school places.
