A taskforce established by the Institute for Public Policy Research has proposed the creation of a new system of additional learning support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in schools. This recommendation includes overhauling the existing education, health, and care plans (EHCPs), which are currently managed by local authorities for students with the most complex needs.
The taskforce emphasized the importance of retaining current EHCPs, which outline the necessary support for young people with SEND, to ensure that no child loses their plan until there is a “significantly better support” system for families through comprehensive reforms. This recommendation follows the government”s announcement that the release of its Schools White Paper, which includes SEND reforms, will be postponed until early next year.
Geoff Barton, the former general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and chair of the IPPR”s inclusion taskforce, noted that the establishment of a new statutory category of support is a crucial reassurance for parents. There have been apprehensions regarding potential reductions in EHCPs due to government reforms; however, education minister Georgia Gould has assured that there will always be a legal right to additional support for young people with SEND.
When asked whether successful reforms might lead to a decrease in the number of issued EHCPs, Barton acknowledged that such a possibility exists. “We clearly state that if a child has been granted an EHCP, it will not simply be taken away,” he remarked. “Instead, we should consider what alternative routes could be available.”
The taskforce”s recommendation for statutory additional learning support aims to identify potential barriers to learning as early as possible in a child”s life and address them locally. Barton pointed out that speech and language issues are significant barriers for 50% of children with SEND. He suggested that local resources, such as speech and language therapists, could provide timely support, alleviating the long wait that parents sometimes face for an EHCP.
Moreover, the taskforce called for government investment in early interventions, which would include increased funding for schools to hire SEND professionals and enhance teacher training. Margaret Mulholland, a SEND and inclusion specialist at ASCL, stressed the necessity of tackling “insufficient core funding” in schools for the success of any new SEND system. She noted the precarious nature of the role EHCPs will play in this new framework, as families view these plans as legal assurances of support for their children. “Any new approach must gain their confidence,” she added.
The IPPR formed the inclusion taskforce during the summer to propose solutions for the ongoing crisis in the SEND system. Recent research revealed that one in 14 young people waited over a year to receive an EHCP in 2024, while the number of assessments conducted by local authorities surged by 250% from 2013 to 2024. Alarmingly, less than half of EHCPs were issued within the statutory timeframe of 20 weeks last year.
For instance, in Leeds, over half of young people, specifically 57.2%, waited more than a year for their EHCP in 2024. A spokesperson for Leeds City Council mentioned that they continue to invest in efforts to reduce assessment times, noting a 117% increase in EHCPs completed in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Additionally, in Kirklees and Leicestershire, 46.2% and 44.6% of plans, respectively, were issued after more than a year. A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council highlighted that additional resources have helped reduce processing times to an average of 24 weeks over the past year, with ongoing efforts to improve this further. Similarly, Kirklees Council reported that it has doubled the number of EHCPs issued within the 20-week window, surpassing the national average and receiving positive feedback from a recent SEND inspection regarding its oversight of new plans.
However, in 14 other councils, at least one in five young people faced wait times exceeding a year for their EHCP last year. Nonetheless, in 86 out of 150 local authorities, only 1% or fewer young people experienced delays of more than a year. Researchers identified factors such as poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic, and cuts to support services as potential contributors to the significant rise in demand.
Barton emphasized the need for careful planning in implementing reforms, advocating for cross-party consensus and a clear timeline from the government. Baroness Morgan, a member of the IPPR inclusion taskforce and former education secretary, stated, “Tinkering around the edges of the system will not suffice to provide all children, particularly those with additional needs, with an excellent education.”
A spokesperson from the Department for Education remarked that it is unacceptable for parents to be “forced to fight for every scrap of support.” They affirmed that initiatives are already underway to ensure support is routinely available at the earliest stages, which includes improved training for teachers, a £740 million investment to create more specialist school places, early interventions for speech and language needs, and the establishment of SEND leads in Best Start Family Hubs across all local areas.
