A cross-party report has called for ‘root and branch transformation' of the ‘broken' special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.
Education Committee chair Helen Hayes said: ‘The Government must develop a standardised, national framework for the support that children with SEND can expect in school, long before requiring an education health and care (EHC) plan, so that there can be confidence and clear lines of accountability.
'In the long term, a genuinely inclusive, well-resourced mainstream education system will bring down the desperate struggle to obtain an EHC plan. This will also help stabilise the sector financially.'
The number of children and young people identified with SEND has risen from 1.3m to 1.7m since the introduction of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Education secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: ‘This report highlights the deep-rooted issues that have plagued the SEND system for too long.
‘I am continuing to listen closely to families, teachers and experts, as we put together plans to transform outcomes for every child with SEND, building on the work we have already started.'
