Don't scrap care plans for children with special educational needs, say MPs

LONDON — MPs on the Education Select Committee urged the government not to scrap education, health and care plans, EHCPs, for children with special educational needs as plans to reform SEND provision in England move forward. In a report published Tuesday, the committee said EHCPs should remain a backstop of accountability for parents and that new, statutory minimum standards for SEND support should be introduced across schools at all levels of need. The report also calls for more training for teachers and school staff, in addition to broader investment in specialist provision and per-pupil SEND funding adjusted for inflation.

The eight-month inquiry examined how to achieve long-term sustainability for the SEND system and improve outcomes for children and young people. It notes that the National Audit Office last year found the SEND system in England was not financially sustainable, even after significant increases in high-needs funding over the past decade. The committee’s findings come as the number of children and young people with an EHCP rose to 638,745—the highest total since the plans were introduced about a decade ago—and as roughly 1.3 million pupils receive SEND support in schools without an EHCP. An EHCP is a legal document that sets out the specific support a child or young person is entitled to receive.

Helen Hayes MP, chair of the Education Select Committee, described the reforms as a root-and-branch overhaul and urged the government to develop a national framework that ensures consistent support for children with SEND long before an EHCP is needed. She said there should be clear lines of accountability and a standardised, national approach to what schools should provide. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, agreed that all teachers should be trained to support pupils with SEND, but warned that responsibility cannot rest with schools alone. He called for a collaborative, multi-agency approach involving health and child services and argued that SEND funding is currently insufficient and must be fully resourced for a rethought system to work.

Across the corridor of the department, parents and campaigners have urged caution about any changes to EHCPs as reforms unfold. Tracy Winchester, who runs the parent campaign group SEND National Crisis, described the potential loss of legal protections as terrifying for families who have fought for years to secure appropriate support for their children. She noted that local authorities must manage budgets carefully but emphasized that education for children is a matter of rights.

In response to the report, a Department for Education spokesperson said the government is listening to families as it develops plans to transform outcomes for every child with SEND. The department said it is already taking actions to make evidence-based support routine for all students who need it — including substantial investment in places for SEND students, improved teacher training, and the Best Start Family Hubs program now being rolled out in local areas.

The report arrives as reforms to SEND provision have been anticipated for months, with ministers previously stating they would publish plans in the autumn. While the government has not ruled out changes to EHCPs, the committee’s conclusions emphasize preserving the legal framework that families rely on while expanding standards and training to ensure more consistent support across schools. The debate centers on balancing accountability, quality of support, and the efficient use of public funds in a system that has seen rising demand and evolving expectations for inclusive education.

Overall, the Education Select Committee says a standardized national framework for SEND support should be established well before an EHCP is necessary, to build confidence and ensure clear accountability for the level of assistance provided. The government’s response in the coming months will influence how schools, local authorities, health services, and families coordinate to deliver education, health, and social care support for children with SEND, with potential implications for budgets, staffing, and the availability of specialist placements. The health component of SEND remains a central concern as services navigate capacity, early intervention, and integrated planning to improve long-term outcomes for affected students.