SEN reforms: Sharp increase in number of children refused support

The number of children being refused formal special educational needs (SEN) support following an assessment has more than tripled since ambitious government reforms came into effect in 2014, it has emerged. More than 3,000 children were refused an EHC plan following a special educational needs assessment in 2017. In 2015 a total of 1,090 of the 29,015 children assessed by councils (3.76 per cent) were denied an education, health and care (EHC) plan after being deemed not to require one. Latest Department for Education figures, published today, show that the number of refusals in 2017 was 3,043 out of 45,205 assessments (6.73 per cent of the total). EHC plans were introduced in the Children and Families Act 2014 and billed as providing children with special needs and disabilities more joined-up support from education, health and social care services. Read more.