Parents spend £5,000 on special school assessments in England

Published: 16 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

New research has revealed significant disparities in England’s special educational needs system, showing that some parents of children in special schools are spending as much as £5,000 on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The findings highlight how access to resources and parental means can profoundly influence the level of support children receive.

The study, conducted by the Sutton Trust, found that while 65% of working-class families spent nothing on their child’s EHCP applications, only 29% of middle-class families did the same. In contrast, one in ten middle-class families spent over £5,000 on assessments, medical reports, consultant fees, and legal advice. The report emphasises that these disparities increase the likelihood of securing coveted places in special schools for children from more affluent backgrounds.

EHCPs, introduced in 2014, are legally binding plans agreed between parents and local authorities to provide additional support tailored to a child’s individual needs. Yet the Sutton Trust research reveals that the ability to pay for supplementary assessments or legal assistance often tips the balance in favour of wealthier families, creating a two-tier system in special education. Children from working-class families, especially those in need of additional support, are less likely to receive the full benefits of the EHCP process, with long-term consequences for their academic outcomes and prospects.

The report found that 12% of parents with children in special schools had spent £5,000 or more on their EHCP applications, compared with just 1% of those with children in mainstream schools. Affluent parents were also more likely to challenge local authority decisions at tribunals, with the majority of cases resulting in successful awards of EHCPs. Overall, middle-class families were eight percentage points more likely to secure an EHCP than working-class families.

Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, stressed the broader societal implications of the findings. “It’s unacceptable that a child’s background can dictate whether they get the help they need to thrive and be happy at school. This is a major barrier to their opportunities and can profoundly impact their long-term prospects,” he said. Harrison added that the current system is inconsistent, over-bureaucratic, and failing disadvantaged children.

Margaret Mulholland, the Association of School and College Leaders’ specialist in SEND and inclusion, noted that schools are under-resourced and often face shortages of key specialist staff such as speech and language therapists. “Desperate families often pay for assessments themselves and fight for the level of care they want for their child through tribunals. But such measures are often more difficult for disadvantaged families, and this means we effectively have a two-tier system,” she said.

The research also highlighted the compounded disadvantage faced by children from poorer backgrounds. While 26% of schoolchildren in England qualify for free school meals, they represent 44% of children with EHCPs, with another 39% receiving additional support without an EHCP. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to receive less support and achieve poorer exam results compared with their wealthier peers.

An investigation by The Guardian into local authority spending on SEND support revealed that the highest-spending councils were concentrated in affluent areas of the south-east and east of England. Of the ten councils with the largest accumulated deficits in their Send budgets, four were in the wealthiest fifth of council areas, with five more in the wealthiest two-fifths.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, emphasised that support should be determined by children’s needs rather than parental resources or geographic location. “Support should be based on children’s needs, not where in the country they happen to live, the ability of their parents to make the case, or whether or not they have an EHCP – which, given shortages of funding and specialist staff, is far from a silver bullet to ensure pupils get all the help they need,” he said.

The government is responding to these inequalities as part of an overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. While earlier reports suggested that EHCPs might be scrapped, recent sources indicate that the plans will remain under the reforms. Georgia Gould, Minister for School Standards in England, acknowledged the failures of the current system, stating: “This report lays bare how badly children with SEND have been let down and denied the opportunities and support they deserve. Our mission is to break down barriers to opportunity so every child, not just the privileged few, can achieve and thrive.”

Gould outlined measures to improve support, including £740 million to create more specialist school places, enhanced training for teachers, and earlier intervention for speech and language needs. She emphasised that these reforms aim to ensure that every child receives timely and appropriate assistance, regardless of their background.

As the government works to implement these changes, the Sutton Trust report underscores the urgent need for a fairer, more equitable system. The findings highlight the stark contrasts in resources available to families navigating EHCP applications, demonstrating that the quality of a child’s education and the support they receive should not be determined by wealth or social class.