Nearly half a million UK children have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC Plans), rising by over 11 percent from last year, according the latest 2025 government figures published last month.
The EHC plans are legal documents which describe a child’s or young person up to 25’s special educational needs, the support they need, and the outcomes they would like to achieve, according to Council for Disabled Children.
The report found that more than 1.7million pupils in England have special educational needs (SEN), including both those with and without EHC Plans.
This represents an increase of more than 5% from 2024.
A teacher from a central-London, state-funded primary school said: “EHC plans are really good, because they are there to support the needs of the child.
“It’s all very individual and very personalised.
“It sets out clear guidelines what the teacher should be doing, and how the parents can best support them and be on the same page.”
She has seen a rise in EHC Plans in her school, with each of them tailored to the child’s individual needs, both in the classroom and at home.
She said: “For example, one of my children had targets of ‘I’ll be able to write two sentences’, ‘I’ll be able to self-regulate my emotions’ and ‘can manage transitions’.
“They are reviewed annually, then at the end of Key Stage One, we set new targets to be met at the end of Key Stage Two, so you’re projecting for three years’ time.
“I guess the only downside is whether the provision is actually happening.” “
A former teaching assistant said: “They are great if they are used, but they’re often unrealistic with the teacher’s capacity.”
London sits near the average of EHC percentage uptake in the nine major regions of England, sitting behind the South East, South West, East Midlands and the East of England, though has been steadily increasing every year for the last decade.
This type of educational aid has been a legal requirement for over a decade.
According to the Children and Families Act 2014, local authorities must secure that the plan provides for the child or young person to be educated in a maintained nursery school, mainstream school or mainstream post-16 institution.
As well as saying what help the child or young person needs with their education, the plan will say what they should be able to achieve if they get that help.
The policy is not without controversy, as The Guardian reported in May the Schools minister declined to rule out replacing EHCP documents as part of plans to change SEN system.
In London, Richmond-Upon-Thames ranked second-highest of all boroughs in state-funded primary school children, between Reception and Year Six pupils, gaining SEN support without an EHC.
A Richmond Council spokesperson said: “From academic lessons and extracurricular clubs to school performances and leadership opportunities, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are valued in all aspects of life in schools.
“We have a rich school improvement offer which all of our schools can access to promote confidence and competence to support children and young people who have SEND in mainstream schools.
“At Key Stage Two [between the ages of seven and 11], 42% of pupils receiving SEN Support and 19% of those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) met the expected standard, compared with just 26% and 9% nationally.”
The report states that the most common type of need for those with an EHC plan is autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs for those with SEN support.
Feature Image Credit: Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash
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