New changes are in effect for children with disabilities. What’s the result?
Government decisions taken in the UK today foresee significant changes to the system for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SENDs). By 2035, education, health and care plans (EHCPs), the legal documents that determine the benefits children are entitled to, will only apply to the most complex cases.
The government, acting to improve the conditions for children with disabilities, has finally taken this decision. Details of the decision can be found below. From 2029, EHCPs will be reassessed when children move to the next stage of education. The number of people with these plans has more than doubled in the UK in the last decade.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC, “I’m sure parents will see the change, but we want to do it carefully.” However, the government always says every change will be positive and gives hope, but then when the changes are implemented, they start preparing for new changes. In fact, when you read the decisions, it’s difficult to fully understand what the government is introducing.
It’s unclear exactly what will be done for children with disabilities. It’s also unclear what families will do for these children. The old law is being amended, and it is said that these changes will be better for children with disabilities.
We hope that, as the government says, the decisions made will truly be a ray of hope for children with disabilities and make their lives easier. Yes, we have no doubt about the government’s good intentions, but we cannot trust their actions very much.
