Education, health and care plans have been invaluable for my children. Hints they could be scrapped fill me with fear
Carrie Grant is a TV presenter and voice coach and a parent of four children with special educational needs
T
hree of my four children have had full EHCPs. These are education, health and care plans, which means each child’s needs have been assessed and documented. They guarantee that appropriate provision to meet those needs has been agreed and must now be delivered by law. Well-written EHCPs are invaluable, particularly the legal part. Without it there would be no rigour, no meaningful challenge and, ultimately, no power to ensure that the right educational support is provided.
Naturally, then, I was worried when earlier this year the government began discussing reforms, with the possibility of scrapping EHCPs. Ministers said they had inherited a system on its knees, with local authorities struggling to cope with the rising demand for support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send). The government’s plans are due to be published in October, and I fear where they will leave children like mine.
