UK special education reforms at risk as parents rush to secure support, experts say

Labour's flagship changes to special education in England are at risk of unravelling because parents are rushing to secure support for their children before the system changes, according to new analysis. The Institute for Government (IfG) thinktank suggests the government’s plans to largely replace education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in England with more widespread support in mainstream schools may be too optimistic and take longer than its 2030 timeline.

The IfG report calls on the government to review the timetable for the changes, warning that ministers risk basing both their reforms and spending plans on assumptions that the system cannot deliver. This situation arises from parental worry, leading many to act to ensure support and avoid future uncertainty. The Guardian reported that councils and schools have seen a surge in EHCP applications, with one school describing the level as “unreal” compared with previous years. Several councils project that at current rates of increase, nearly one in 10 pupils will have an EHCP by 2029.

Amber Dellar, the author of the IfG report, stated that the long rollout of the changes creates a “moral hazard,” encouraging parents to apply for EHCPs now rather than wait for the new system. She described a “use it before you lose it” dynamic, as schools and parents have an incentive to secure EHCPs before they are phased out due to uncertainty about the new specialist packages. Dellar noted that budgets for additional resources could be eroded if demands for EHCPs exceed forecasts, as councils must continue issuing them under existing legislation.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson countered that the report's figures are speculative and there is no evidence the proposed reforms are driving additional EHCP demand. The DfE stated it inherited a system with record EHCP numbers and long waiting times, and is investing to improve inclusion and teacher training. The spokesperson affirmed commitment to the implementation timelines set out in the schools white paper.

The proposed changes, announced in February, aim to overhaul a system criticized by parents for forcing them to seek EHCPs to obtain specialist support or a place in a special school. The EHCP application process, introduced in 2014, has been associated with lengthy waits for NHS assessments and bureaucratic delays. Mark Franks, director of welfare at the Nuffield Foundation, which funded the report, noted that while the current system is strained, concerns remain about whether future investment and reform will be sufficient.