Special educational needs system to be overhauled in England

The UK government has announced that starting in 2035, education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in England will be reserved exclusively for children with the most complex special educational needs. For those pupils who currently hold EHCPs, these plans will remain in place until at least September 2029. At that time, support provisions will be reassessed as children complete key educational stages such as the end of primary school or their GCSEs.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized that the new approach aims to make mainstream schools more inclusive, improving life chances for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Speaking at a school in Peterborough, she stressed that the reforms would end the prolonged battles many parents face when trying to secure adequate support, moving children from being “sidelined and excluded to seen, heard and included.” The proposed changes form part of the government’s Schools White Paper, which outlines legislative plans for education.

Under the revised system, all pupils with SEND will receive an individual support plan (ISP) created collaboratively by schools and parents, detailing the child’s needs and the support available. Only those requiring specialist assistance will be eligible for EHCPs, a significant shift aimed at managing the growing demand and escalating costs linked to the current SEND framework. The government has committed £4 billion over three years to bolster inclusivity in mainstream education, allocating £1.6 billion directly to schools, early years settings, and colleges, with an additional £1.8 billion designated for access to specialists such as speech and language therapists.

Reactions to the government’s proposals have been mixed. The National Education Union cautioned against imposing greater expectations on schools without adequate funding, describing the announced financial support as insufficient. Similarly, critics including teacher unions and opposition figures have voiced concerns about funding shortfalls, pointing to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s projection that the gap between local authority SEND spending and government funding could reach £6 billion by 2028-2029. Educational experts warn that maintaining the existing EHCP system while expanding mainstream SEND support will be costly and complicated. Meanwhile, the White Paper also addressed broader challenges such as teacher recruitment and retention, with plans to enhance maternity pay, introduce financial incentives for headteachers, and target improvements in attendance and educational outcomes, particularly in disadvantaged areas

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