One in Three Parents Now Seeking SEND Assessments: What This Reveals About the System
According to The Guardian, a new survey by Parentkind has found that one third of UK parents have sought a special needs assessment for their child. In England, that figure rises to 34%.
On one hand, this shows welcome recognition of children’s needs that too often went unnoticed in the past. But it also exposes the pressure on an already broken system.
The Reality for Families
A quarter of parents said they had been waiting more than a year for an assessment.
Half had to pay for private assessments to avoid long waits.
15% of parents reported giving up work to care for their child, while 20% had taken time off.
A third said they faced financial strain, and 40% reported mental health problems linked to the strain of navigating the system.
Behind these statistics are families living on hold, children without timely support, and parents forced to become caseworkers, campaigners, and carers all at once.
Why the Numbers Are Rising
The increase isn’t simply a “surge” in need, it reflects:
Greater awareness and diagnosis, particularly of autism, ADHD, and speech and language needs.
The lasting impact of the Covid pandemic on children’s mental health and communication skills.
Years of underinvestment in early intervention, meaning children fall further behind before support is in place.
What This Means for Reform
The government has promised a White Paper this autumn, focused on expanding mainstream provision and creating more specialist units. But many families fear this will come at the cost of restricting EHCPs, the one legal safeguard parents can rely on.
Our View at edvocat
This survey confirms what parents have been saying for years: the system is overwhelmed, and families are paying the price. Expanding provision is welcome, but only if legal protections remain intact.
Every child deserves timely assessment, appropriate support, and a fair chance to succeed. Reforms that focus on cost-cutting rather than children’s rights will only deepen the crisis.
EHCPs are not the problem. They are the lifeline.
