Reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) System in England
Ministers are considering significant changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, which could eliminate the need for individual care plans for students. A proposal to expand the number of places in SEND units within mainstream schools is expected to gradually reduce the reliance on Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). While officials argue that these reforms will ease the burden on parents seeking EHCPs, they acknowledge that individual care plans may still be necessary for those with the most complex needs.
However, disability advocacy groups have expressed strong opposition to any changes that might limit or remove EHCPs. These legally binding documents outline a child’s specific needs and are essential for accessing council-funded support. The group Let Us Learn Too has vowed to continue fighting against the proposed reforms and has warned of potential legal action if necessary.
The government claims that the current system, which involves many children attending privately run special schools, is not delivering good educational outcomes and is financially inefficient. There is also concern that much of the private SEND provision is managed by overseas private equity firms, leading to money leaving the country. In contrast, the Ontario education system in Canada is seen as a positive example, offering well-resourced SEND support within mainstream schools and requiring only individual care plans for students with the most complex needs.
Although no final decision has been made on the SEND reforms in England, details are expected to be released in the autumn when a white paper is published. The goal is to shift more provision back into mainstream schools, with additional support funded within state school classrooms. This aligns with the statement from Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell, who emphasized that all teachers should be trained to support children with special educational needs.
The government aims to enhance in-school SEND support so that over time, fewer students will require EHCPs. Instead, more pupils will be reassessed and transitioned off these plans. This approach would eventually lead to the creation of specialist SEND units in schools, reducing the need for an additional layer of entitlement through EHCPs.
How Does the Ontario SEND System Work?
In Ontario, the Ministry of Education provides funding to district school boards through the Grants for Student Needs (GSN), enabling them to meet their responsibilities towards supporting SEND students. This includes the Special Education Grant (SEG), which is specifically allocated for special educational needs. Every student receiving support gets an Individual Education Plan (IEP), detailing the services they require based on a thorough assessment.
There are five categories of exceptionalities, including behavior, intellectual, communication, physical, and multiple. These categories address a wide range of conditions affecting a student’s ability to learn and do not exclude any medical condition, whether diagnosed or not, that may lead to learning difficulties.
In December, the government announced a £740m capital investment to create more specialist places in mainstream schools. The Department for Education (DfE) stated that this money would fund 10,000 new SEND places by expanding specialist units in mainstream schools, adapting classrooms for inclusivity, and creating new places in special schools. Chancellor Rachel Reeves also announced £760m for “reform of the SEND system” in the spending review, with funds coming from the £3.25bn public services “transformation fund.”
A new initiative called Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (Pins) has been introduced to bring specialist health and education professionals, as well as expert parents, into schools to help train staff. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has visited several schools that manage children with additional needs without large numbers of EHCPs.
Financial Challenges and Parental Concerns
The government review follows a warning from the National Audit Office (NAO) that the SEND system is “financially unsustainable,” with rising demand for EHCPs. Local authorities face the risk of effective bankruptcy due to soaring costs. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), SEND costs are projected to rise from £3.3bn this year to £8bn by 2028.
Latest DfE statistics show that the number of children with an EHCP has increased to 638,700 as of January 2025, representing a 10.8% increase compared to January 2024. The number of EHCPs has risen every year since their introduction in 2014, surging by 80% from 353,995 in 2018/19.
Parents and advocates have raised concerns about the proposed reforms, with some vowing to fight any changes that restrict EHCPs. Hayley Harding, founder of Let Us Learn Too, welcomed the focus on the Ontario model but warned that parents will continue to resist any reduction in support. Campaign group Save Our Children’s Rights expressed similar concerns, emphasizing that the rights enshrined in EHCPs must remain central to any reform.
Downing Street has insisted that the reforms will not result in any loss of support for children, families, or schools. However, there remains a strong call for transparency and meaningful engagement with parents and professionals to ensure that the reforms truly benefit all involved.
