England: Dozens of advocacy groups oppose eliminating SPED plans

July 8, 2025, Standard: What are EHC plans and how much is spent on them?

The plans are supposed to help children who have additional needs to thrive, but with talk of them soon being abolished - what are they? Here’s all we know... 

The UK Government is considering major reforms to a system that helps children with additional needs.

It is reported that a White Paper is currently in the works by ministers who want to overhaul the special educational needs system to make it fit for all and workable for the future.

But there are rumours that the powers that be may look to abolish Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs) as part of the shake up.

However, many believe they serve a purpose to children with special needs who will be the ones who suffer if ECHP is abolished.

A letter to the Guardian reported on Monday, signed by dozens of special needs and disability charities and campaigners, warned against government changes to the special education needs or disabilities (Send) system that would restrict or abolish EHCPs.

Helen Hayes, who chairs the cross-party Commons education select committee, said mistrust among many families with children with special education needs was so apparent that ministers should commit to keeping EHCPs.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think at this stage that would be the right thing to do. We have been looking, as the education select committee, at the Send system for the last several months. We have heard extensive evidence from parents, from organisations that represent parents, from professionals and from others who are deeply involved in the system, which is failing so many children and families at the moment.”

But Education minister Stephen Morgan insisted parents should have “absolutely” no fear that support for children with special education needs or disabilities Send will be scaled back.

But what are EHCPs? Here is all we know:

An EHCP is a legally binding document which describes a child or young person's special educational needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they would like to achieve.

They are applicable to children and young people up to the age of 25.

They are prepared by the local authority, in conjunction with teachers and carers.

The local authority is legally responsible for funding or directly providing all the support identified in an EHCP. This includes covering the costs of any school fees for the “named school”.