Nursery World - Early years key time for new SEN plans, says minister

Reforms aimed at improving access to services for special needs children have been called the ‘biggest challenge of our generation’ by the minister introducing them.

Speaking less than three months before the new SEN code of practice comes into force, Edward Timpson, secretary of state for children and families, said the early years was ‘the time’ for parents, social care, education and health services to start drawing up the new education, health and care (EHC) plans.

EHC plans for all SEN children and young people will be introduced in September, as part of the reforms in the Children and Families Act. They can be requested by professionals or parents and are meant to be a personalised, comprehensive and legally binding plan for all SEN children from birth to their 25^th birthday. They will replace statementing and Learning Difficulty Assessments currently carried out in schools.

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