Councillors in Tower Hamlets have voiced concerns that national reforms to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services could be perceived as cost-cutting measures, despite assurances from council officers that the focus remains on needs-led support.

The Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed the SEND reform update on Monday, 14 September 2026, hearing that Tower Hamlets has submitted its own SEND Reform Plan to the Department for Education (DfE). Approval of this plan could see 90% of the borough's high needs block overspend reimbursed.

Children in high-visibility vests participate in an outdoor activity.
Children in high-visibility vests participate in an outdoor activity.

Lisa Fraser, Director of Education, explained that national reforms, driven by the Department for Education's Schools White Paper, aim for earlier intervention and stronger mainstream inclusion. Key aspects include a shift towards earlier, needs-led support, with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) to be reserved for the most complex cases. New Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will be introduced for less complex needs. The reforms also include a tiered system of support, an inclusive mainstream fund, and an 'experts at hand' service. However, the meeting information does not provide an evidence base for the effectiveness of these reforms.

To support mainstream schools in effectively catering to a wider range of needs, the reforms include a £1.6 billion inclusive mainstream fund and an £1.8 billion 'experts at hand' service. Locally, Tower Hamlets is developing an 'Experts at Hand' model involving Local Area Partnerships (LAPs) of approximately 10 schools, each with a lead convener school, supported by multi-disciplinary teams comprising specialists such as Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, and Occupational Therapists. Additionally, £4.8 million has been earmarked across schools to develop spaces that are more accessible to children with special educational needs.

However, councillors raised questions about the timeliness and quality of EHCPs. While Ms. Fraser reported an improvement in EHCP timeliness to 62.5% of assessments completed within 12 months, Councillor Victoria Lupton questioned how a reduction in EHCPs would evidence that children are receiving support earlier, rather than being a purely financial measure.

Bar chart showing the ethnic background distribution of children with EHCPs in Tower Hamlets, with
Bar chart showing the ethnic background distribution of children with EHCPs in Tower Hamlets, with "Bangladeshi" being the largest category at 45.6%.

Concerns were also raised about the high proportion of children with EHCPs in Tower Hamlets, which is the third highest nationally. Ms. Fraser acknowledged this presents a challenge but noted that national reforms aim to reduce the number of EHCPs by focusing on earlier intervention for less complex needs.

Councillor Iqbal Hossain requested that the council investigate the underlying reasons for the high number of EHCPs among the Bangladeshi community, which constitutes 45% of children with EHCPs in the borough, although Councillor Sadiqur Rahman clarified this is in proportion to the larger Bangladeshi child population in Tower Hamlets.

A person wearing a hijab writes on a sticky note next to a sign asking about knowledge of EHC plans at the end of a workshop.
A person wearing a hijab writes on a sticky note next to a sign asking about knowledge of EHC plans at the end of a workshop.

Further details on the SEND reforms and the council's approach can be found in the public reports pack for the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting, available at Public reports pack 14th Sep 2026.

A group of individuals, including one in a wheelchair, are seated around tables in a room, engaged in activities that appear to be a meeting or workshop.
A group of individuals, including one in a wheelchair, are seated around tables in a room, engaged in activities that appear to be a meeting or workshop.