The legal rights of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are under threat, according to an open letter to the Government.

It warns that many thousands of children could be denied vital support, or even lose access to education, if proposed reforms lead to the removal of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for those in mainstream schools.

The letter notes that 85% of children with SEND are educated in mainstream settings, with more than 270,000 holding EHCPs. These legally enforceable plans set out a child’s needs and the support required to help them access education.

Demand for EHCPs reached a record 638,000 last year and are projected to climb to 840,000 by the end of this Parliament, according to research by County Councils Network (CCN) and Isos Partnership.

The signatories, including the SEND Rights Alliance and presenter and campaigner Chris Packham, argue that without statutory backing and additional resources, efforts to support more children in mainstream education are unlikely to succeed.

The open letter supports the Save Our Children’s Rights campaign, whose petition has exceeded 108,000 signatures and will be considered for parliamentary debate. It concludes that removing EHCPs would not reduce needs but could instead push more children out of education.

‘Whatever the SEND system's problems, the answer is not to remove the rights of children and young people. Families cannot afford to lose these precious legal protections,’ the letter concludes.

The Department for Education is canvassing views from parents and schools on reforming the SEND system through online and regional meetings.

A DfE spokesperson said: ‘We have launched the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation, with plans being directly shaped by parents, the sector and experts who know the system best. That engagement will drive reforms that protect what families value and fix what isn’t working.’

Check out: SEND reform needed to break vicious cycle.