Long Waits for Special Needs Support Plans as Fewer Than Half Issued on Time
Children and young people with special educational needs in England are experiencing increasing delays in receiving crucial support plans, with fewer than half being completed within the required timeframe, new government data reveals.
According to the Department for Education (DfE), just 46% of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) were issued within the statutory 20-week deadline in 2024. The government attributed the delays to local authorities being “overwhelmed” and announced that it would introduce comprehensive reforms this autumn.
However, the news has sparked concern among parents and advocacy groups, who fear these changes may include the replacement of EHCPs entirely.
One such parent is Sue, who lives in Wirral, Merseyside, with her daughters Matilda, 11, and Isadora, 7. After an exhausting 72-week wait, Sue’s family finally secured an EHCP for Matilda — nearly a year beyond the legal timeframe.
“I now understand why parents of children with SEND are constantly in fight or flight mode. I’ve been battling this for so long,” said Sue.
Matilda, currently finishing her final year of primary school, receives additional support for suspected autism and ADHD. Sue fears that the long delay has disrupted what could have been a carefully managed transition to secondary school.
“Matilda struggles with change. Without a proper plan, she’s missed out on crucial support,” she explained.
Wirral Council acknowledged it is facing more than double the number of EHCP assessment requests compared to pre-pandemic levels. In response, the council said it has invested an additional £2.8 million annually into improving SEND services and doubled its caseworker team.
Still, Sue remains deeply concerned about potential changes to EHCPs.
“If the government scraps EHCPs, it would be devastating. Matilda wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school without tailored support — the class sizes, sensory issues, even the uniform would be too much.”
EHCPs are legally binding documents that outline the specific educational and health support a child with special needs is entitled to. This can include one-on-one assistance, specialist equipment, or other targeted services based on an official assessment.
As of 2024, the number of children and young people with an EHCP has risen to 638,745 — the highest since their introduction 10 years ago and an 11% increase over the past year.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has emphasized a preference for integrating more SEND students into mainstream schools and has allocated £740 million to support this goal. Currently, around 43% of EHCP holders are already enrolled in mainstream settings.
In addition to EHCP recipients, almost 1.3 million students receive some form of special needs support in schools across England. However, many families see the legal protections provided by EHCPs as essential and are often forced to fight prolonged battles to obtain them.
Stephen Kingdom, from the Disabled Children’s Partnership, underscored the importance of retaining EHCPs within any future reforms.
“The lack of clarity around potential reforms and silence on whether EHCPs will remain has created widespread anxiety among families already under strain. We’re not asking for special treatment — just a fair chance at an ordinary education and daily life,” Kingdom said.
A report from the National Audit Office last year criticized the SEND system as financially unsustainable, noting that rising funding had failed to improve outcomes for children and families. Although a temporary deal keeping £3 billion in SEND-related deficits off local government balance sheets has been extended to 2028, many local councils are still grappling with serious budget pressures.
Tim Oliver, chair of the County Councils Network, agreed urgent change is needed.
“Despite record levels of funding — which, crucially, are being kept off official balance sheets — there is widespread dissatisfaction with how the system is functioning. Councils are overwhelmed by demand. While reform is essential, it must be executed carefully,” he said.
In response to the latest figures, Education Secretary Phillipson acknowledged that too many children are not being identified early enough.
“This creates a damaging cycle where local services are overwhelmed and children’s needs escalate to crisis levels,” she said.
She added that the government’s “Plan for Change” includes expanded access to early intervention services, increased investment in school places for SEND pupils, and a commitment to outlining full reforms this autumn aimed at improving outcomes for every child and family.
