Expert comment: EHCPs - We need reform, not retrenchment

“Education reform is on the horizon, and much of the discussion has been around the future of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The removal of this system from mainstream schools risks dismantling a core legal safeguard for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  

“While EHCPs are not perfect, they remain the only enforceable mechanism that guarantees support for over 270,000 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream settings. Removing them risks a two-tier system where access to support depends on postcode or individual school ethos. Without a clear national accountability structure to replace EHCPs, many children could be denied the provision they need to access and thrive in education. The current system is slow, adversarial and over-reliant on diagnosis to trigger support.  Diagnosis-based models often overlook children with complex or co-occurring needs and disproportionately disadvantage those from marginalised backgrounds. But the answer is not to remove rights – it is to reform and properly resource the system. 

“We need a system that centers on professional judgement, relational understanding and flexible, timely support. Teachers are generally committed to inclusion, but are constrained by policy frameworks, funding pressures, and narrow accountability measures.  

“Removing EHCPs without addressing these systemic issues is not reform - it’s erosion. If government wants to make change, it must first build a fair and accountable infrastructure that ensures all children get the support they need, regardless of setting.”