England sees surge in applications for children's special needs support plans

Schools and local authorities across England are reporting an unexpected wave of applications for education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which mandate support for children with needs such as speech and learning difficulties, autism or ADHD. In 2025, one in 20 school-age children had an EHCP, but council projections suggest this could nearly reach one in 10 by 2029.

The number of pupils with EHCPs has grown by more than 11% annually over the past two years, and similar double-digit increases are expected over the next three years. Headteachers describe the volume of requests as "unreal," with some schools anticipating twice as many incoming pupils with EHCPs when the new school year begins.

Reform driving the rush

The surge is widely linked to government reforms announced in February that could eventually restrict EHCPs to children with the most complex needs, prompting families and schools to apply now while they still can. Bill Revans, a councils' spokesperson on special educational needs, said earlier projections of 840,000 EHCPs by 2028-29 will likely be exceeded, creating serious financial strain despite government pledges to clear most of the debt councils have accumulated.

More than 530,000 school-age children in England currently hold an EHCP, while another 1.3 million have identified special needs. Costs are covered from local authority high-needs budgets, and the sharp rise has left many councils with persistent deficits.

Schools minister Georgia Gould said the government is carefully weighing feedback on its white paper, which aims to enable earlier diagnosis and stronger support within mainstream schools, reducing reliance on EHCPs. Some measures, including placing specialists directly in schools, will begin this year, while EHCPs would be reserved from 2030 for children with the most profound needs.

Officials warn that some councils, including Hampshire and Manchester, are already forecasting EHCP increases of 58% and 40% respectively by 2030, raising concerns about the long-term financial sustainability of the system.