Special education overhaul at risk as parents rush for EHCPs
Labour’s plan to revamp special education in England is in danger of coming apart, according to a new analysis from the Institute for Government. The thinktank says the government’s timetable to largely replace education, health and care plans (EHCPs) by 2030 may be too optimistic. It warns that ministers risk building reforms and spending plans on assumptions the system cannot deliver.
Many parents appear to have acted to secure support and avoid future uncertainty. The Guardian recently reported that councils and schools saw a surge in EHCP applications—one school called the level “unreal” compared with previous years. Several councils project that at current rates, nearly one in 10 pupils will have an EHCP by 2029. Amber Dellar, author of the IfG report, described a “moral hazard”: the long rollout encouraged parents to apply for EHCPs now rather than wait for the new system. The report calls on the government to review the timetable for changes.
