Stuart Anderson MP has renewed his commitment to end the postcode lottery of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in South Shropshire and beyond.
More than half a million children in England now have an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). However, hundreds more families are still on the waiting list. In Shropshire, the number of children on EHCP Plans has tripled over the last five years – with 2,500 children now being supported by one.
Research has also found that only half of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans for special educational needs are issued within the 20-week deadline. The last government increased funding for SEND provision by a record £850 million to help local councils deliver 60,000 new places since 2010.
However, rising needs have outpaced increases in government funding. Stuart has said that the issue could be exacerbated by planned reforms to council funding. Under the plans, approximately £1.6 billion in council tax raised in county areas like Shropshire could be redistributed to other parts of the country.
At the same time, the County Councils Network has said that the reforms, which are focused on mitigating deprivation, overlook the fact that demand across social care and special educational needs are the "main reasons" for local government funding pressures. Stuart slammed the proposals in September 2025, after modelling showed that Shropshire Council could be stripped of £9 million due to the reforms.
Ministers are expected to announce their approach to SEND reforms through a Schools White Paper that is due to be published in the Autumn. Ahead of this, Stuart has urged Ministers to seize the "huge opportunity" that this presents in order to deliver a system that ensures every child across the country receives the right support to succeed.
Last year, Stuart criticised the government's decision to penalise independent special schools by taxing them. In its own impact assessment, the government admitted that 37,000 pupils will be forced into already stretched state schools in the longer term.
In February, Stuart renewed his campaign and urged Ministers to improve access to specialist education in rural areas - including South Shropshire.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"As a parent, I want to ensure that every child gets the very best possible start in life. In Shropshire, the number of children on Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Plans has tripled over the last five years – with 2,500 children now being supported by one. The last government increased funding for SEND provision by a record £850 million to help councils deliver 60,000 new places since 2010. However, rising needs have outpaced increases in government funding. Now, planned reforms in council funding could worsen this problem in rural areas like Shropshire, which stands to lose £9 million as a result. Under the plans, approximately £1.6 billion in council tax raised in county areas like Shropshire could be distributed to other parts of the country. Ministers muse seize the huge opportunity presented by the upcoming Schools White Paper to deliver a system that genuinely ensures every child receives the right support in succeed in both education and beyond."
