- Government hesitation to guarantee EHCP protections alarms SEND families and advocates.
- MPs and campaigners warn that removing EHCPs could harm over 600,000 children.
- Labour’s Helen Hayes urges ministers to rebuild trust before reforming the broken SEND system.
The UK government’s proposed reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system have ignited concern among campaigners, charities, and MPs, as officials refuse to confirm the future of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Despite reassurances from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson that no final decisions have been made, the lack of transparency has sparked fears that EHCPs may be scaled back or scrapped.
Parents and MPs Unite to Defend EHCPs Amid SEND System Shake-Up
The current SEND framework relies heavily on EHCPs to provide individualized, enforceable support for children with complex needs. These documents link educational, health, and social care services, offering parents a legal pathway to secure the help their children are entitled to. Without EHCPs, families fear being left in bureaucratic limbo, with no accountability from local authorities.
Helen Hayes emphasized the emotional toll placed on families already navigating an overstretched and underfunded system. She warned that any reforms must be built on transparency and compassion, noting that stripping statutory protections would only heighten the anxiety and isolation many parents already feel. “This is a lived reality for thousands,” she said, underscoring the importance of parental trust.
Labour’s Stephen Morgan acknowledged the failures of the current system but declined to rule out significant changes to EHCP access. While he promised better support across the board, he avoided committing to keeping EHCPs intact. This ambiguity has only deepened fears that the government may pursue a cost-saving route at the expense of vulnerable children.
The government’s framing of the SEND overhaul as a “fix” to a broken system has not reassured campaigners. Instead, it has amplified scrutiny. Critics argue that meaningful reform should enhance—not erode—legal rights. With the October white paper looming, families, educators, and rights groups are rallying to ensure that their voices are not only heard but respected in policy decisions that directly affect children’s futures.
The government’s silence on EHCP guarantees has triggered a powerful response from families and advocates who refuse to accept reform at the cost of children’s rights. Trust must be rebuilt, not broken further.
“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” — Mahatma Gandhi
