MPs examine healthcare failings in provision of EHCPs
The Health and Social Care Committee will examine failures in the provision of healthcare support for children and young people with educational health and care plans (EHCPs).
Meeting details
It comes after the Government recently announced major reforms to the SEND system in the Schools White Paper.
This one-off session is not being held as part of the joint inquiry, with the Education Committee, into children and young people’s mental health.
The cross-party Committee will question experts on how support in schools can be undermined by shortages and skills gaps in the workforces of educational psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.
There may be questions about the leadership of the Department of Health and Social Care and the role of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in commissioning these services, and how they are funded. The health service is going through a structural shake-up affecting ICBs and NHS England whilst levels of need for SEND support continue to rise among the population of children and young people.
MPs may also question witnesses on how families and the education system can hold health bodies to account for the health support children with EHCPs should be legally entitled to.