England's Send System Overhaul: Secondary School Reviews for Special Needs Support
The government is set to unveil a comprehensive overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system in England, with significant changes that will impact how children qualify for support. Under the new plans, children with a legal right to special needs assistance will undergo a review when they transition to secondary school. The first cohort to be affected by this change is currently in key stage 1, indicating that the reforms will have long-term implications for families across the country.
Raising the Bar for EHCP Eligibility
The changes will raise the threshold at which children in England qualify for an education, health and care plan (EHCP), which legally entitles those with Send to receive tailored support. EHCPs will now be reserved exclusively for children with the most severe and complex needs. However, the government has assured that new plans for children on lower tiers will still confer additional support and legal rights, ensuring no child is left without assistance.
Parents will retain legal avenues for appeals under existing equalities legislation and through tribunals, according to sources familiar with the proposed system. This move is part of a broader effort to create a more flexible and responsive framework for special needs education.
Political and Financial Pressures
The Send system overhaul is considered one of the most high-stakes policy changes undertaken by the government since welfare reforms. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has led a year-long lobbying offensive, engaging with hundreds of MPs to build support for the changes. Many have expressed recognition that the current system is broken and in need of reform.
Despite this, there are concerns within government that Labour MPs could vote down the plans in the next parliamentary session if faced with strong opposition from parents. Phillipson has emphasised that children with Send will always have a legal right to support, stating that Labour aims not just to protect but improve that support.
Implementation and New Framework
New-style EHCPs are scheduled to be introduced from 2030. Children with additional needs, including those with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD diagnoses, will receive individual support plans. These plans will be decided and provided by schools based on a clear, trusted national framework, independently verified by evidence-based organisations.
Schools will also be allocated commissioning budgets to spend on special needs provision, mirroring systems currently in operation within the NHS. This will enable schools to partner more closely with health services to determine the necessary support for each child.
Addressing Systemic Issues
One source highlighted that a major problem with the current EHCP system is the lengthy waiting times and bureaucratic delays. They argued that with the right resources, schools could meet many needs sooner and more efficiently. The overhaul aims to streamline processes, ensuring support is delivered promptly and effectively.
Importantly, no child currently in a special school will lose their place, and pupils will not transition off an EHCP until the new system—with its enhanced legal rights—is fully operational.
Financial Context and Future Outlook
The cost of high-needs provision has escalated dramatically since changes introduced by Michael Gove in 2014. Overall spending on Send has increased by two-thirds over the past decade, exceeding £11 billion annually. Local authorities have accumulated £6 billion in debt, with councils spending over £2 billion last year alone on transport costs to special schools due to a lack of local provision.
The Local Government Association recently warned that four in five English local authorities risk effective bankruptcy from rising special educational needs spending unless significant changes are implemented. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has committed to taking over full responsibility for these costs, as announced in last year's budget.
Phillipson has repeatedly stated that the Send changes are not cost-cutting measures, asserting that she would pursue the overhaul even if funding were not an issue. She described it as morally wrong to place children in independent special schools that often fail them at enormous cost to both the children and taxpayers.
A Department for Education spokesperson highlighted ongoing investments, including £3 billion in specialist Send units in local state schools and £200 million for teacher training in Send. The upcoming schools white paper aims to expand children's rights, transform lives, and end the one-size-fits-all school system that has hindered many children from achieving their potential.
The spokesperson added: It's about creating a better system for all families, where support is needs-led, embedded in every community, and wrapped around children at the earliest stage so they can thrive at a school closer to home. Full plans will be unveiled shortly, building on existing efforts to foster a truly inclusive educational environment.
