The children’s commissioner for England has called for an overhaul of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), after new data from the Department for Education revealed a rise in demand for education, health and care plans (EHCP).
Nearly 1.2 million children in England are currently accessing SEND support without an EHCP, recent data from the DfE found – an increase of nearly five per cent compared with last year's figures.
It also found that only 51 per cent of EHCPs were issued by local authorities within the 20 week deadline this year, compared with 60 per cent in 2021.
Dame Rachel de Souza said she was “really concerned” by the rise in demand for EHCPs, adding: “We need to radically rehaul our approach to SEND, to create a system which is ambitious for every child.”
