Government Faces Backlash Over Potential Cuts to Special Needs Support
Today, I want to talk about something that’s making headlines and stirring up deep concern across the UK—changes being proposed to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, particularly in relation to Education, Health and Care Plans, or EHCPs. These plans are absolutely vital for children with special needs, offering legally binding support that many families rely on just to get through each day.
Now, the government is facing yet another revolt—this time not just from opposition benches, but from within its own ranks, campaigners, and families. Reports suggest that upcoming reforms might restrict access to EHCPs. Let that sink in for a moment: children who need additional help just to participate in school like their peers may soon face more hurdles than ever. It’s heartbreaking and deeply alarming.
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Early education minister Stephen Morgan has been asked directly whether the government can promise that no child currently holding an EHCP will lose their support. His response? He wouldn’t confirm it. Instead, he repeated phrases like “better support” and “getting it right,” which frankly sound more like dodging the question than offering reassurance. When you're a parent of a child with special needs, you don’t want vague commitments—you want clarity, certainty, and compassion.
This isn’t about bureaucratic policy. This is about real lives. EHCPs aren’t some golden ticket—they’re hard-won, often after months or even years of paperwork, appeals, and stress. Families fight tooth and nail to get them because their children desperately need tailored support—support that helps them learn, socialize, and thrive.
The government says this is about reforming a broken system, not saving money. But let’s be honest: when cuts start affecting the most vulnerable, the intention doesn’t matter nearly as much as the impact. And the impact of limiting EHCPs could be catastrophic.
There’s a real fear that we’re heading toward a two-tier education system—where those with the loudest voices or most resources get the help they need, while others are quietly pushed aside. Campaigners are calling this a “new battle for Number 10,” and honestly, they’re right. Because how we treat children with special needs says everything about our values as a society.
We need to stand up and say clearly: every child deserves the right support. Not just in words, not just in press releases, but in policy, in classrooms, and in practice. Cutting corners when it comes to vulnerable children isn’t reform—it’s regression. And we cannot afford to go backward.
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