Rise in demand for Education, Health and Care Plans in the media: CCN responds
Over the weekend, The Guardian has reported that schools and local authorities have seen a surge in applications for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) following the March announcement that the government intends to overhaul the special educational needs and disaibilities (SEND) system.
Some local authorities, including Hampshire County Council, have said that applications for EHCPs are at record levels, and forecast significant growth between now and 2030.
Under proposals set out by the previous administration in government, mainstream schools will have their resources increased to support more pupils with SEND needs, without the need for an ECHP to secure that support. ECHPs will still remain, but only for certain needs. This will be underpinned by a tribunal system.
Read The Guardian's story here.
Below, the County Councils Network responds to the story's findings.
Cllr Bill Revans, SEND Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:
“The number of EHCPs has been growing at an increasing rate for years, but it is clear there has been a particularly sharp surge in assessment requests to our member councils this year since the government announced its planned reforms in February.
“Our previous analysis has predicted the number of EHCPs will rise to 840,000 EHCPs by 2028/29, however, it is now likely these numbers will be exceeded. This translates to very real financial pressures on local authorities, and despite the government commitment to wipe 90% of existing SEND deficits built up by councils over the past decade, we expect the debt to be re-accrued by as soon this time next year.
“Whilst we recognise the present uptick in EHCP assessments is likely to be due to parental uncertainty in the short-term, this underlines the importance of the Government working with parents, schools and councils to rebalance the system. We urge the new administration to reassert its commitment to the SEND reform plan as soon as possible to improve outcomes and ensure limited resources are focussed on those most in need, whilst importantly maintaining the safeguard of transition over a full decade meaning no child will be left without support.”
The CCN will be continuing to argue that the new administration in government should commit to implementing the SEND reforms in full as early as possible.
Read a joint report from CCN, the Local Government Association and Isos Partnership which is the first 'stock take' from local government on the reforms below.
