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Exclusive: Fears over upcoming reforms to the special education needs (SEND) system have led more parents to request formal support for their children, according to reports from councils.
In May, Dame Christine Lenehan, the government’s strategic advisor on SEND, told education reporters the upcoming schools white paper would “probably” lead to fewer education, health and care plans (EHCPs) being issued, and possibly stop children in mainstream schools getting them.
Her comments sparked a backlash from parents, campaigners and subsequently MPs.
The government announced last week that it had delayed publication of the white paper until next year. School leaders were originally told to expect the proposals in September. In a letter to education committee chair Helen Hayes MP, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the delay would help the government to “deliver the most effective set of reforms we can”.
PoliticsHome revealed in September that the proposed SEND reforms faced further delay amid ministerial concern that they risked a political backlash similar to that which led the government to abandon welfare cuts in the summer.
EHCPs set out the legally required provision for children with SEND. They are issued for children with the most severe needs, with numbers rising sharply in recent years.
Councils have been trying to stem the number of children getting EHCPs to rein in huge financial deficits.
However, PoliticsHome has seen council reports suggesting that Lenehan’s comments, and subsequent speculation over the government’s plans, have had the opposite effect.
A Hull City Council briefing paper said last week that after requests for an education, health and care needs assessment (EHCNA) – the first stage to getting an EHCP – fell in 2024, they have risen sharply in 2025, from an average of 69 requests a month last year to 99 a month between January and July this year.
“Although data is not available as yet, colleagues in other authorities have reported the same trend,” the briefing paper said, “and it is felt to be attributable to a reaction to the forthcoming SEND reforms, which have been reported as to possibly remove the EHCP for mainstream pupils.”
While the proportion of requests that are rejected by the council has risen this year, more than 60 percent are still being accepted, showing most of the new requests are well-founded.
Wiltshire Council has also seen a fall in EHCNA requests turn into a rise mid-year. “Correlation is not causation, and so being definitive about this is challenging, however it is worth noting that the numbers began to rise in May, which was the same time that there were national news stories about SEND reforms and possible restrictions around EHCPs,” a council report said this month.
“We typically see a small rise in EHCNA requests at the end of the academic year – however, this year’s increase has been higher than recent years,” Jon Hubbard, Wiltshire’s cabinet member for children’s services, said in a statement to PoliticsHome.
While EHCNA requests to Wiltshire Council fell by 5 per cent in 2024, they were up by 8 per cent this May, 7.5 per cent this June, and 12.7 per cent this July compared to the same months last year. The 12-month rolling average of requests had been falling this year, but has gone up since May.
“This appears to be linked to a rise in parent-carer requests and increased anxiety around national SEND reforms and is in line with feedback from our Parent Carer Forum,” said Hubbard.
“The criteria for refusing assessments or issuing EHCPs have not changed, but we are seeing a higher proportion of requests being refused. This may be due to earlier-than-appropriate submissions driven by national concerns. At the same time, we do believe that our increased early help routes and the additional support we are providing for mainstream learners and schools is having a positive impact, helping meet needs without requiring an EHCP in some cases.”
Catriona Moore, policy manager at SEND legal advice charity IPSEA, said the full picture will only become clear when the Department for Education’s annual EHCP data is published. “It wouldn’t be at all surprising if uncertainty about potential SEND reforms has made parents feel anxious about securing the support their child needs.
“Given recent suggestions that children in mainstream schools could lose access to EHC plans under potential reforms, it’s understandable that some parents may feel they need to act now to make sure their child has the support they need in school.
“But an increase in requests for assessment shouldn’t be seen as evidence that families are making unnecessary applications. Rather, it’s an indication of how worried parents are about what SEND reform might mean.”
A Department for Education spokesperson told PoliticsHome: “For many years, children with SEND have been let down by a system failing to meet their needs, hampering their outcomes at school and chance to get on in life.
“This government is determined to deliver reform that stands the test of time and rebuilds the confidence of families, which is why we’re launching a further period of listening and engagement – testing our proposals with parents, teachers and experts in every corner of the country, so that lived experience and partnership are at the heart of our solutions.”