A taskforce established by the Institute for Public Policy Research has put forward a proposal for a new system of additional learning support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in schools. This recommendation includes the overhaul of education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) to create a framework managed by local authorities specifically for those with the most complex needs.
The taskforce emphasized that the current EHCPs, which are legally binding documents outlining the support necessary for individuals with SEND, should remain in place. This is to ensure that children do not lose their support until there is a “significantly better support for families through substantial reform.” This proposal comes in the wake of the Government”s announcement on Wednesday regarding the postponement of its Schools White Paper, which will outline SEND reforms, 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, stated to the PA news agency that establishing a statutory category of support is an “important reassurance for parents.” Concerns have arisen regarding potential cuts to EHCPs under government reforms, but Georgia Gould, the education minister, has assured that there will always be a legal entitlement to additional support for young individuals with SEND.
When asked if the successful implementation of reforms could result in a decrease in the number of issued EHCPs, Barton acknowledged that it might be possible. “We”re quite explicit that if a child has been granted an EHCP, then you don”t suddenly start taking that away,” he clarified. “Instead, you start thinking about what alternative routes exist.”
The taskforce”s proposal for statutory additional learning support is designed to identify barriers to learning as early as possible in a child”s life and to address these challenges within their local communities. Barton noted that approximately 50 percent of children with SEND face difficulties related to speech and language, suggesting that local expertise in these areas could expedite support, thus preventing parents from having to wait extended periods, sometimes over a year, for an EHCP.
Furthermore, the taskforce has highlighted the necessity of government investment in early intervention strategies, which includes increasing funding for SEND professionals in schools and providing teacher training. Margaret Mulholland, a SEND and inclusion specialist at ASCL, emphasized that resolving the issue of “insufficient core funding” in schools will be vital for the success of any new SEND system. She stated, “The question of what role education, health, and care plans play in this new landscape is fraught with jeopardy as families see these plans as a legal guarantee of support for their child.” She added that any new approach must inspire confidence in families.
The IPPR established the inclusion taskforce in the summer with the goal of addressing the SEND system crisis. Research indicates 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 percent from 2013 to 2024. Last year, less than half of EHCPs, specifically 46.4 percent, were issued within the statutory 20-week time limit. In Leeds, for instance, more than half of young individuals, precisely 57.2 percent, waited over a year for an EHCP in 2024.
A representative from Leeds City Council stated that efforts are ongoing to reduce the time required to complete assessments, noting a 117 percent increase in EHCPs completed in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year. In Kirklees and Leicestershire, 46.2 percent and 44.6 percent of plans, respectively, were issued after more than a year. A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council mentioned that additional resources and initiatives have reduced processing times to an average of 24 weeks over the past year, with ongoing efforts to decrease this duration further.
Similarly, a representative from Kirklees Council noted that the council has doubled the number of EHCPs issued within the 20-week timeframe, surpassing the national average, and recent SEND inspections indicated effective oversight of new plans. Beyond these areas, at least one in five young people in 14 other councils experienced delays of over a year in receiving their EHCP last year. However, in 86 out of 150 local authorities, 1 percent or fewer young people faced such delays.
Researchers have identified factors such as poverty, the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and reductions in support services as potential contributors to the significant increase in demand for SEND support. Barton stressed that reforms must be thoughtfully considered to work out the specifics, build a cross-party consensus, and establish a clear timeline for implementation.
Baroness Morgan, a member of the IPPR inclusion taskforce and former education secretary, remarked, “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 for the Department for Education (DfE) criticized the current situation, stating it is unacceptable for parents to have to “fight for every scrap of support.” The spokesperson added that initiatives are already in progress to ensure support is routinely available from the earliest stages, including enhanced teacher training, an investment of £740 million to create more specialist school places, earlier interventions for speech and language needs, and embedding SEND leads in Best Start Family Hubs across all local areas.
