Sacrificing Vulnerable Children: The government’s reckless proposal to scrap EHCPs that vulnerable children rely on is nothing short of a betrayal. Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) are lifelines for disabled and neurodivergent students—yet this heartless move would strip away their legal right to proper education and care.
Disturbingly, this attack on disabled children appears to be part of a wider Labour theme. From brutal welfare cuts to dismantling disability rights protections, there’s a clear pattern of vulnerable people being first in line for austerity. Now, by targeting EHCPs—the last defence for SEND children’s education—they’re showing exactly whose needs matter least to them.
A Staggering Act of Bad Faith
Labour won votes by promising to:
✔ “Fix the broken SEND system”
✔ “Ensure every child gets proper support”
✔ “Reduce EHCP waiting times”
The Cruel Consequences of Scrapping EHCPs
If this government gets its way, we’ll see:
More children excluded – Schools already push out SEND pupils at 5x the rate of neurotypical kids. Without EHCPs, it’ll get worse.
Families forced into crisis – Parents will have to consider homeschooling because schools won’t be legally required to help. Homeschooling presents its own set of challenges, demanding considerable time and effort from parents. However, whether it’s an easy or difficult path truly varies for each family.
A postcode lottery of neglect – Wealthier families may be able to afford private support, while poorer children get nothing.
This isn’t “reform”—it’s a deliberate attack on disabled children’s futures.
The Real Reason? Austerity 2.0
The government claims EHCPs are “too bureaucratic.” The truth? They don’t want to pay for them.
EHCP delays are already at record highs (some families wait over 2 years).
Schools are underfunded—instead of fixing that, they’re making it easier to deny support.
Private profiteers win – If EHCPs vanish, desperate parents will turn to costly private assessments.Now they’re doing the exact opposite by:
✖ Removing legal protections entirely
✖ Forcing parents into private assessments
✖ Worsening the postcode lottery they vowed to end
This isn’t just hypocrisy – it’s political malpractice of the highest order.
Why EHCPs Matter More Than Ever
The crisis figures Labour inherited:
- 164,000 children awaiting assessments
- Record 20-month delays for EHCPs
- 75% of SEND parents reporting mental health crises
Instead of solving these problems, Labour’s solution is to make the problems disappear by scrapping the very system that identifies need.
The Real Motives Behind This Cruelty
- Treasury-Driven Brutality
Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules demand cuts – and vulnerable children are first in line - Systemic Ableism
The same old prejudice that SEND support is “too expensive” - Bureaucratic Cowardice
Easier to erase needs than actually fix broken local systems
What This Means for Families
- No legal right to specialist schools or therapies
- No recourse when schools refuse support
- Return to the bad old days of parents begging for scraps
How to Fight Back
🔴 Email your new Labour MP – Hold them to their promises
🔴 Join SEND protests – Mass action gets attention
🔴 Share your story – Media must expose this betrayal
Key Resources:
Conclusion
This government has shown, yet again, that it sees disabled children as a burden, not a priority. Scrapping EHCPs isn’t “efficiency”—it’s institutional neglect. This must be stopped.
Share Your Voice: Is This Betrayal Happening to Your Children?
This is not just a political debate; it’s about the future of our most vulnerable children. If the claims of “Labour’s Education Betrayal” resonate with you, if you’ve seen the impact of funding cuts or policy shifts on the ground, we want to hear from you.
Have you witnessed a decline in support for special educational needs, mental health services, or disadvantaged pupils in your local schools? Are teachers and support staff struggling to provide the care and attention these children desperately need due to budget constraints?
Your experiences are crucial in painting a full picture of what is happening in our education system. This is an opportunity to amplify the voices of those directly affected.
Please share your thoughts, observations, and concerns in the comments below. Let us know how these policies are impacting vulnerable children and their families. What changes have you seen? What are your fears for the future? Your insights can help us understand the true cost of these decisions.
We want to hear your what you have to say