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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Aletha Adu Political correspondent

Children with special needs in England may lose legal right to school support plans

A child with special needs learning to write.
A child with special needs learning to write. More than half a million children in England had an education, health and care plan as of January 2024. Photograph: Don Tonge/Alamy

Hundreds of thousands of children with special needs could lose their legal entitlement to extra support in schools in England under plans being considered by ministers, a move that campaigners warn could force thousands more pupils out of mainstream education.

The reforms relate to education, health and care plans (EHCPs), statutory documents families have relied on for more than a decade to guarantee their children’s right to support for conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and mental health issues.

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