Overview
- Disability charity Sense reports 47% of 1,000 SEND parents fear support will be reduced, with 35% leaving jobs and 40% cutting hours due to lack of appropriate provision.
- Teachers’ unions urge the Government not to weaken EHCP entitlements, with the NEU joining the Save Our Children’s Rights campaign and NASUWT calling for rights to be protected and strengthened.
- Ministers plan to set out reforms in a Schools White Paper, with reports indicating details are being finalised for February and proposals said to reserve EHCPs for needs unmet by a new four‑tier mainstream system.
- The Department for Education says the legal right to additional support will remain and points to £200m for teacher training and at least £3bn to create around 50,000 specialist places.
- Rising EHCP numbers are straining council budgets, prompting proposals to limit plans to the highest‑need cases and contributing to lengthy waits that families say have cost children appropriate placements.