Schools Minister responds to concerns about support for children with SEND

Here is a response from Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell to concerns about support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The comment is for immediate release in response to new figures released today on the timeliness of education, health and care plan (EHCP) assessments and comes ahead of three debates this week in the House of Commons on support for children with SEND.

Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell said:

“These figures show that children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families are often being left in limbo for far too long.

“The system is creaking at the seams following years of neglect, and without action would only deteriorate further, given the growing number of families needing support.

“We will work as quickly as possible to ensure there is more effective early identification and support to give every child the best start in life, including by providing new online training to early educators.”

Background:

• This week, Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell is set to address concerns about support and funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the House of Commons.
• It comes as new figures released for the first time today reveal 62% of decisions from local authorities on whether or not to issue education, health and care (EHC) plans took six months last year, 31% took between six months and a year, and a further 6% between one and two years. This is despite there being a statutory requirement for local authorities to issue a plan within 20 weeks of a request or confirm a decision not to in 16 weeks, unless there are exemptions.

• This data collection is in its second year, and it is expected the data will improve over time. DfE officials are already in touch with these areas to support them to work through the issues impacting their timeliness.

• There will be three parliamentary debates today, tomorrow and Thursday about provision and support in Somerset, Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire and nationally. They can be viewed here on Parliament TV.
• Despite high needs funding increasing to over £10 billion in 2024-25, the minister is set to say confidence in the SEND system is low. There are long waits for support, including speech and language interventions, while tribunal rates are increasing and outcomes are poor.

• The government committed to effective early identification and intervention to reduce the impact that a special educational need or disability may have in the long term.  More effective earlier intervention will reduce pressure on the EHCP system.

• In July 2024, this Government announced that funded support for the 11,100 schools registered for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme would continue for 2024-25 to help pupils who need extra support with their speech and language development find their voice. 
• The Department for Education will work with the sector as essential and valued partners to ensure our approach is fully planned and delivered in concert with parents, schools, councils, and other people who work with children.