SEND Reform Plans Raise Alarm Over Future Provision and Protection

The Government is proposing a significant overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England, with plans to expand SEND units within mainstream schools and reduce reliance on Education, Health and Care Plans (#EHCP). While framed as a move toward efficiency and improved outcomes, the proposals have prompted widespread concern among SEND professionals, educators, and families.

📌 What’s Changing?

Under the proposed reforms:

• SEND units would be embedded in mainstream schools, led by specialist teachers.

• The long-term aim is to phase out EHCPs, which are currently statutory documents guaranteeing tailored support and funding for children with complex needs.

• The Government argues that EHCPs are time-consuming to obtain and often fail to deliver strong educational outcomes.

⚠️ Why This Raises Concerns

SEND professionals and families warn that these changes could undermine the legal protections and funding mechanisms that currently support children with high needs. Key concerns include:

• Loss of Statutory Safeguards: EHCPs are the only formal route to secure funding for specialist placements when mainstream provision is insufficient. Removing them risks leaving families without recourse if a school cannot meet their child’s needs.

• Variable Quality and Capacity: Not all mainstream schools have the infrastructure, training, or staffing to run SEND units effectively. Without consistent standards and funding, provision may vary widely across regions and settings.

• Risk of Internal Segregation: SEND units may create physical and social separation within schools, limiting opportunities for inclusive learning and peer interaction. This contradicts the principle of whole-school inclusion.

• Funding Uncertainty: If EHCPs are removed, it is unclear how funding will be allocated or protected. Schools may be expected to absorb costs without additional resources, placing pressure on already stretched budgets.

• Dilution of Accountability: EHCPs currently provide a framework for monitoring progress, setting targets, and involving families. Without them, there is a risk that oversight and transparency will diminish.

📺 Public Spotlight: Kellie Bright’s Warning

The BBC’s Panorama documentary, aired last night, featured EastEnders actress Kellie Bright, who shared her personal experience of fighting for SEND support for her autistic son. She warned that the proposed reforms threaten “disaster” for families like hers, highlighting the emotional and logistical toll of navigating the current system — and the dangers of removing its statutory backbone.

Bright’s testimony has amplified public awareness of the issue and reinforced calls for the Government to engage meaningfully with families, practitioners, and sector experts before implementing structural changes.

📊 Financial Pressures and Long-Term Risks

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) recently projected that SEND spending could exceed the Ministry of Justice’s day-to-day budget by 2029, reaching £21 billion by the end of the parliamentary term. This reflects a doubling of real-terms spending since 2016 and signals a growing need for sustainable, equitable reform.

However, professionals caution that short-term cost-cutting measures — such as reducing EHCPs — may lead to greater long-term expenditure, particularly if children’s needs are not met early and effectively. There is also concern that inadequate provision in childhood will translate into increased support costs in adulthood.

🧭 What This Means for Schools and Trusts

For schools, trusts, and local authorities, the proposed reforms demand close scrutiny. While SEND units may offer opportunities for tailored support, their success depends on:

• Transparent funding mechanisms

• Whole-school commitment to inclusion

• Robust training and leadership

• Continued accountability and family involvement

Without these safeguards, the reforms risk creating a fragmented system that fails to meet the needs of the most vulnerable learners.

🧭 Why Every School Needs a Robust Accessibility Plan

In this shifting landscape, a robust accessibility plan is not just a statutory requirement—it is a strategic safeguard. It ensures that:

• Provision is mapped and proactive, not reactive or piecemeal.

• Barriers are identified and addressed across physical, curricular, digital, and social domains.

• Staff responsibilities are clear, and training is embedded across roles.

• Stakeholder voice is central, including pupils, parents, carers, and staff.

• Continuity is maintained, even as national policy evolves.

A well-structured accessibility plan allows schools to demonstrate readiness, uphold dignity, and deliver inclusive education regardless of external reforms. It also provides a framework for evidencing compliance, securing funding, and planning for transitions—especially vital if EHCPs become less accessible.

In short, it’s how schools ensure that inclusion is not just a principle, but a practice.

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