2023 saw the largest rise in Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans in the last 7 years!

The Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan report released yesterday, shows that the number of children and young adults with EHC plans has increased by 11.4% from 2023 – the largest rise in the last seven years. 

An Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) is a legally binding document outlining children's and young adult’s special education, health and social care needs. These documents require a list of all the child’s special educational needs and provisions to meet each of the listed needs and this provision needs to be detailed, specific and quantified.

The main facts and figures from the EHCP report:

• Since 2014, the number of EHC plans issued has increased each year, with 2023 being no different. 573,963 plans were in place at the beginning of 2024, an increase of 11.4% from the previous year.
• In 2023, 84,400 new EHC plans were issued, up 26.6% from 2022.
• Initial requests for EHC plans rose from 114,500 in 2022 to 138,200 during 2023.
• 50.3% of new EHC plans were issued within 20 weeks compared to 49.2% in 2022 

What is the sex split for new EHC plans (EHCP) in 2023?

With 68.2% of the 84,400 new EHC plans being issued to males and 31.8% being female, during 2023.

Pepe Di’Lasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders said:

“Failure to match rising demand with appropriate government investment has brought the whole SEND system to the brink of collapse, with schools being unable to afford the costs of SEND provision, a lack of places available in special schools, and local authorities having huge high-needs deficits.”  

You can read the full report here - Education, Health and Care Plans Report 2024