Overview
- More than 130 charities and parent groups in the Disabled Children’s Partnership have published a report calling on ministers not to dilute legal protections or restrict access to Education, Health and Care Plans.
- There were 638,745 EHCPs in place in England as of January 2025, marking a 10.8 percent increase year-on-year and over 154,000 assessment requests logged in 2024.
- The government has reaffirmed its commitment to statutory support and plans an autumn white paper proposing tighter eligibility criteria and a £740 million investment to boost mainstream specialist provision.
- Local authorities are grappling with growing high-needs funding gaps and spent more than £100 million in 2022–23 on failed tribunal challenges against EHCP decisions.
- The coalition’s ‘Fight for Ordinary’ blueprint calls for guaranteed legal support for every child with SEND, mandatory local planning of mainstream and specialist places, and stronger early intervention.