What are education and health care plans and why are parents worried about them being scrapped?
ECHPs are individualised plans that set out the needs of a particular child and the support they should receive – from education, health services and social care – in order have the best opportunity to thrive. But demand for ECHPs is soaring and providing support is proving financially catastrophic for local authorities.
One of the criticisms of EHCPs is that they prioritise providing children with individual models of support, rather than developing inclusive cultures within schools and within the broader education system. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has outlined a vision of building a system where more children with special educational needs and disabilities can attend mainstream schools.
But removing ECHPs leads to the possibility of children who need more specialist support missing out.
Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK's latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.
To secure an ECHP, local authorities carry out a statutory assessment to determine whether a child's needs warrant additional support. An assessment does not always lead to an EHCP, but if one is issued, it must outline how the child's needs will be met and the additional resources needed to do so.
These resources might include funding to provide a child with a teaching assistant, funding for equipment and transport to school, or funding to go to a specialist school. This system of support helps school leaders ensure that children and young people have the right support, at the right time.
According to a report published earlier this year, the demand for EHCPs has risen by 140% since 2015. Recent data shows that there are 482,640 children and young people in England with an EHCP.
Many more children have special educational needs, but do not have an ECHP. These pupils are classed as receiving special educational needs support. The percentage of pupils with an EHCP has increased to 5.3%, from 4.8% in 2024. The percentage of pupils with special educational needs support has increased to 14.2%, from 13.6% in 2024.
Despite government investment of £10.7 billion to local authorities in 2024-25, a House of Commons committee report outlines that long waiting times for assessments, as well as to access support such as speech and language therapy, has led to parents losing confidence in the system.
Funding is allocated to each local authority from central government to fund provision in their areas. It is for local authorities, in consultation with their schools, to determine the individual allocation to schools. However, local authorities are struggling to meet the increased demand for EHCPs. Even when funding is allocated through EHCPs, it is not always sufficient to address the needs of those with complex needs.
And funding is not sufficient to meet demand. Local authorities have accumulated huge deficits due to spending exceeding funding, placing some at risk of going bankrupt.
Future plans
Bridget Phillipson has refused to be drawn on whether EHCPs will be axed. 'What I can say very clearly,' she has said, 'is that we will strengthen and put in place better support for children.'
Building more inclusive schools is obviously one way of achieving this vision. If scrapping EHCPs means less funding for children for special educational needs and disabilities, though, this cannot be the answer. Children need more support, not less, to enable them to thrive.
The solution is for the government to work out what models of inclusion work well in mainstream schools and to decide how these can be resourced and evaluated. Clarity is also needed on inclusion in mainstream schools can be measured in order to assess whether it is working.
Making more support in mainstream schools work also requires an adequate supply of knowledgeable, well-trained teachers. The government is prioritising this through revision to initial teacher education courses, with an emphasis on all teachers being teachers of special educational needs.
If the government doesn't get this right, the result may be poorer educational and long-term outcomes for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. It may also lead to issues with teacher recruitment and retention in mainstream schools, particularly if teachers feel that they do not have the level of support in place that they need to meet the needs of their pupils.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Jonathan Glazzard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Imported dogs 'posing risk to UK', RSPCA warns
A leading animal charity has called for all dog rescue organisations to be licensed amid growing concerns of behavioural issues and disease risks in imported pets. Thousands of dogs are brought into the UK each year, many of which are being sold to owners via websites and social media posts without any significant matching process or assessment. The BBC has spoken to numerous owners who have faced serious difficulties with dogs delivered to their door from countries such as Romania, Ukraine and North Macedonia, including infectious diseases and aggressive behaviour. David Bowles, spokesman for the RSPCA, described the process as like a "Deliveroo for dogs" and urged the government to consider stronger regulation for the sector. Currently, rescue organisations in Scotland must be licensed, but there is no such rule for England, Wales or Northern Ireland. 'Ticking time bomb' Secret recording as part of a BBC investigation showed multiple rescues operating through social media were happy to provide a dog following a short phone call, completion of an application form and a video check of their property. Analysis of 150 adverts on Facebook and a major online pet marketplace showed the majority were offering rescue dogs from Eastern European countries, with half suggesting dogs would be delivered to an owner's home in the UK. Most are run by well-meaning dog lovers, following rules around transportation and importation paperwork. But the lack of preparation and vetting for owners receiving previously unseen dogs straight to their door is causing concern among experts who say there is no way people can know the temperament of the animals. "The RSPCA's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs - coming over, not being health tested," Mr Bowles said. "Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported, they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners. "They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs and that is a real problem." Growing cases of disease Scientists have been monitoring Brucella canis, a rare disease that can be passed to humans. Transmitted through a dog's reproductive fluids, it can present in humans as a short-term fever with flu-like symptoms such as aching muscles but some may suffer longer-term complications such as bone and joint disease. Before 2020 there were three known positive cases in dogs in the UK, but testing has increased and in 2024, 333 cases were being investigated, with at least one instance of it being contracted by a dog owner. Trudy Cain from Alfreton, Derbyshire, discovered rescue dog Nola was Brucella-positive four months after she arrived from Romania. She now faces rising vet and insurance bills and is worried about Nola's and her family's health, although she refused a vet's offer to put her to sleep. "My brain does not compute having a dog that looks healthy put to sleep," she said. "It just breaks my heart, it's been so hard. "I wanted to do a good thing and now I feel like I've done a bad thing." Dr Stephen Woolley, a consultant in tropical medicine and medical microbiology at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said the risk of transmission from dogs to people was "very low", but described the disease as "under-studied and neglected". Many vets recommend that a dog that tests positive for the illness should be put down, but there are also those who say it can be managed by taking precautions around disinfection. Trading standards raid Sian Keen agreed to take a pregnant rescue dog from Ukraine and within days of arriving Narla gave birth to 11 puppies. But several weeks later, trading standards officers swooped on Sian's Somerset home and removed all 12 dogs over concerns they may have been imported with forged blood test documents. As a precaution against rabies, Narla, her puppies and 19 dogs belonging to other people were quarantined in kennels. After three weeks of investigations the dogs were freed, but when Narla returned home her behaviour had changed dramatically and she attacked Sian and her 12-year-old son. "She was just reactive in a way she had never been before, like she was an aggressive dog," said Sian. "I'd been bitten down my arm, I was in so much pain. The bite went right through to the muscle." They felt they had no choice but to put Narla to sleep. "There was just nothing we could do," said Sian. "Our intentions were completely and utterly for the right reasons. If I was looking for a dog now, I certainly wouldn't go to a rescue online." The organisation that Sian had used, Paw Help UK, based in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, said it deeply regretted the stress caused and added animal welfare and public safety were its highest priorities. It said it had not been aware documents had been forged and that they originated from a laboratory used on an emergency basis following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Only one consignment arrived with false documents in 2022, it added, and that all dogs brought in before and since had had fully legitimate paperwork. Government figures obtained by a Freedom Of Information request show 32,391 dogs entered the UK in 2024 as commercial imports, which includes many rescue dogs. Some UK-based rescue organisations said the prevalence of dogs coming into the UK and being placed with owners who could not cope was putting extra pressure on the sector. Emma Shaffery, of Forest Dog Rescue in Worcestershire, said: "We're basically having to mop up after rescues that aren't stepping up and taking responsibility for their dogs." The charity takes in dogs from the UK and abroad, but insists every new adopter meets the dog first. There is then a cooling-off period before the new owner can take their dog home. "It does blow my mind a little bit - you've seen a video and a few pictures and literally you adopt the dog, the dog's sent over and it could be dropped in to you at three o'clock in the morning," Emma said. 'Russian routlette' Dr Rowena Packer, a dog behaviour specialist at the Royal Veterinary College, said she was worried many owners were being paired with unsuitable dogs. Ms Packer said foreign rescue dogs might be traumatised from a long journey to the UK and could also suffer with early life trauma. "The situation right now is we have a lot of really well-meaning people in the UK engaging in either adopting these dogs or being part of organisations that import them that really want to help," she said. "I think it's a really big gamble as to what you're going to end up with because without clear information about lots of the elements of that dog's life and history, it's going to be difficult to match you with that dog. So it is a little bit Russian roulette here." When asked by the BBC if there were plans to introduce licensing for rescue organisations, the government did not comment specifically. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said animal rescue organisations "must meet statutory welfare requirements". The spokesperson said members of the public could check if a rescue was a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, which had "set clear standards". "The government is developing an overarching approach to animal welfare," they added. Rescue Roulette: Dogs from Abroad is on iPlayer now and BBC One in the West and East Midlands at 20:30 BST on 28 July Related internet links RSPCA Defra Forest Dog Rescue Dog import ban call as woman catches rare disease Disease row over imported 'kill centre' dogs Owner's shock as 'cockapoo' grows into 7st mountain dog Charity scrambles to save dogs amid cull fears Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pharmacy warning of unsustainable demand for weight loss medication
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has issued a warning that the burgeoning demand for weight loss injections may be unsustainable, citing a significant mismatch between public interest and clinical suitability for the treatments. The NPA, which represents over 6,000 independent community pharmacies, highlighted this concern. A poll commissioned by the association revealed that 21 per cent of respondents had attempted to access weight loss treatments in the past year, either online or directly from a pharmacy. This figure surged to 35 per cent among 16 to 34-year-olds, contrasting sharply with just seven per cent of those over 55. There were also 41% who agreed they would opt for weight loss treatments on the NHS if they were made available to them. This figure rose to 64% among 25 to 34-year-olds, despite many of these patients being unlikely to be clinically eligible. The NPA says the poll, in which 2,002 people were interviewed, reflects an increasing demand for private and NHS weight loss services. NPA chairman Olivier Picard said: 'Weight loss jabs are one of the biggest drug innovations this century, but growing demand for weight loss treatment highlights the need to make sure this is appropriate for those who want it. 'It's clear from this polling that many more people are interested in getting weight loss jabs than would actually be suitable for treatment. 'We want to make sure supplies are carefully managed so that those in most clinical need can benefit from weight loss medication.' Spiralling demand, fuelled partly by social media, could see people being tempted to resort to unregulated online suppliers instead of regulated pharmacies staffed by medical professionals, they fear. Online suppliers may not be offering weight loss jabs alongside a structured programme aimed at helping them change their behaviour. Wegovy and Mounjaro are among a number of drugs that are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS. Mounjaro and Wegovy are licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in patients with a BMI of over 30 or between 27 and 30 but with a weight-related co-morbidity. This occurs when an individual who has obesity develops another medical condition due to their weight. The NHS currently rolls out Mounjaro to patients with a BMI of over 40 and at least four co-morbidities, the NPA says. The NPA is calling for new regulations to protect patients buying weight loss medication online, so there is a full two-way consultation and all relevant historical medical records are reviewed before the treatment is prescribed. They are waiting for more details about the role pharmacies could play in the rollout of the NHS weight management programme. At least 85% of weight loss medication prescriptions were made by pharmacies in April this year, the NPA estimates. Mr Picard said: 'Pharmacists are experts in medication and many have extensive experience delivering weight loss injections as part of a package of care, including lifestyle advice. 'Pharmacies are well placed to help roll this treatment out on the NHS, and help people make the best use of these powerful medicines.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns
An animal charity has called for stricter regulations on animal rescues importing dogs into the UK, citing concerns about disease risks and behavioural issues Government statistics reveal that in 2023, 320,000 pets were brought into the UK under travel pet schemes and 44,000 entered as commercial imports. RSPCA spokesman David Bowles likened the process to 'Deliveroo for dogs' and called on the Government to tighten regulations on animal rescues. He told the BBC: 'The RSPCA's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs – coming over, not being health tested. 'Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported, they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners. 'They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs and that is a real problem.' There is no requirement for rescue organisations to be licensed in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It comes weeks after a bill that aims to stop animal smuggling and cruelty cleared the Commons with cross-party support. Legislation put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Danny Chambers will reduce the number of animals for non-commercial entry into the UK, ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months old or heavily pregnant dogs and cats, and introduce a halt on the import of dogs and cats who have been 'mutilated', including having their ears docked. The MP for Winchester's Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill was supported by the Government, and will now proceed to the House of Lords on its passage to becoming law. Dr Chambers said: 'As a vet, I've seen the devastating consequences of puppy smuggling. It's unimaginably cruel to separate puppies and kittens from their mothers at a very young age, and then bring them across borders in substandard conditions where they're then sold for maximum profit by unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare.' He added: 'Careful consideration has been given to setting these limits, balancing the need to disrupt illegal trade with minimising impact on genuine pet owners. To underpin this, only an owner, not an authorised person, will be permitted to sign and declare that the movement of a dog or cat is non-commercial. He criticised the influence of social media on the increased demand for dogs with docked ears, and a party colleague hit out at the platforms' role in publishing animal abuse. He said: 'One reason that there is such an interest in dogs with cropped ears is that a lot of influencers on Instagram and other social media platforms pose with these dogs or show they have these new dogs with cropped ears. Many people aren't aware that this is a mutilation. 'They think it's how the dogs' ears normally look, and it drives a demand for dogs that look like this.'