MINISTERS refused to rule out slashing educational health and care plans (EHCPs) again today after campaigners raised fears for the “precious legal protections” for young people with special educational needs.

In a letter to the Guardian, campaigners warned against scrapping ECHPs, which are issued to give children specialist classroom support, as part of any overhaul of support.

Heads of charities, professors, special needs or disabilities (Send) parents and campaigners said that without the documents in mainstream schools, “many thousands of children risk being denied vital provision, or losing access to education altogether.”

Today education minister Stephen Morgan told broadcaster LBC that the current system of support is “failing children, it’s failing parents.” 

He insisted that parents should have “absolutely” no fear that support for children with Send will be scaled back.

But pressed whether the reforms could include scrapping ECHPs, he replied: “We’re looking at all things in the round.

“I’m not going to get into the mechanics today, but this is about strengthening support for system.”

On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson would similarly not be drawn on whether ECHPS will be retained, telling the BBC: “What I can say very clearly is that we will strengthen and put in place better support for children.”

Requests for Send support have risen year-on-year, rising 10.8 per cent to 638,745 EHCPs over the year to January 2025.

School leaders’ union NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said that achieving reforms that allow mainstream schools to support more pupils with special educational needs will need “access to quality staff Send training will be essential, and schools will need significantly improved funding and access to external support in order to ensure children consistently receive the provision they deserve.”

MPs have reportedly warned ministers have not been clear about their plans, and could face a rebellion akin to last week’s welfare Bill revolt.

Today Commons education select committee chair Helen Hayes told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that mistrust among many families with Send children was so apparent that ministers should commit to keeping EHCPs.

The government plans to publish a white paper in the autumn detailing how it will reform support for Send, said Mr Morgan.