Investigation: How EHCPs are Failing Our Most Vulnerable Children

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) were introduced in England to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. However, recent evidence suggests that these plans are falling short of their intended purpose, leaving some of our most vulnerable children without adequate support. This blog post investigates the current state of EHCPs and highlights the challenges faced by children who rely on them.

The Promise of EHCPs

EHCPs were designed to provide a comprehensive approach to supporting children with special needs, combining educational, health, and social care services into a single, legally-binding document. The goal was to ensure that children receive coordinated support across all areas of their lives, improving their outcomes and opportunities.

The Reality: A System Under Strain

Despite their noble intentions, EHCPs are failing to meet the needs of many vulnerable children. While the issues are complex and multifaceted, several key problems have emerged:

1. Inadequate Education Provision

One of the most alarming findings comes from a report on children in the youth justice system. According to data from the Ministry of Justice, shared by the Howard League for Penal Reform:

While this example is specific to the youth justice system, it highlights a broader issue of inadequate educational provision for children with complex needs (BBC News, 2025).

2. Mental Health Crisis

The Children's Commissioner for England has raised concerns about a growing mental health crisis among young people, particularly girls. This crisis is often overshadowed by the dominant narrative focusing on boys' struggles. Key points include:

These findings suggest that EHCPs may not be adequately addressing the mental health needs of vulnerable children, especially girls (The Guardian, 2025).

3. Lack of Holistic Support

EHCPs are meant to provide comprehensive support across education, health, and social care. However, the current system often fails to deliver this integrated approach. Dr. Elaine Lockhart, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' child and adolescent faculty, notes:

"We're absolutely running to try and catch up and not very successfully, unfortunately, because there is so much demand. The girls we are seeing are the tip of the iceberg … behind them will be many more who will be sub-clinically anxious or sad."

This suggests that many children with less visible or less severe needs may be slipping through the cracks of the EHCP system.

The Impact of Systemic Pressures

The failures of EHCPs cannot be viewed in isolation. They are symptomatic of broader systemic pressures affecting children and young people, including:

Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, emphasizes: "This is an optimistic generation, eager for change – but both boys and girls are facing pressures and influences that previous generations never imagined. We can't pit boys against girls, because these are shared issues for every child."

Moving Forward: Addressing the EHCP Crisis

To truly support our most vulnerable children, we need a multifaceted approach that addresses the shortcomings of the current EHCP system:

Only by addressing these issues comprehensively can we ensure that EHCPs fulfill their promise of supporting our most vulnerable children and helping them reach their full potential.

As Joeli Brearley, a maternity discrimination campaigner, aptly puts it: "The old systems don't stand any more, but this generation needs help and support to create a society that doesn't leave them feeling like they are looking into the abyss."

It's time for policymakers, educators, health professionals, and society as a whole to come together and reimagine how we support our most vulnerable children. Only then can we ensure that EHCPs truly serve their intended purpose and provide the comprehensive support that every child deserves.