Special Educational Needs: support in England
An overview of the current system of support for children and young people with special educational needs, and pressure on the system. Updated with new 2024-25 SEND incidence and EHC plan data

This note provides a brief history of adoption legislation, including on forced adoption practices, and the subsequent reform of the law to allow adopted children, birth parents and others to establish contact.
Past adoption practices and the disclosure of adoption information (319 KB , PDF)
Various groups have campaigned for the Westminster Government to apologise for policies amounting to ‘forced adoption’ in the UK in the 1940s and 1950s. Pressure on the Government to apologise gathered momentum following a national apology in March 2013 by the Australian Prime Minister for forced adoption practices in the 1940s and 1950s in Australia.
This note provides a brief history of adoption legislation and information on historical forced adoption practices. It also provides information on mechanisms for adopted children, birth parents and other relatives to access adoption information and establish contact.
This note applies to England and Wales.
Past adoption practices and the disclosure of adoption information (319 KB , PDF)
An overview of the current system of support for children and young people with special educational needs, and pressure on the system. Updated with new 2024-25 SEND incidence and EHC plan data
A general debate on giving every child the best start in life is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons Chamber on Wednesday 16 July 2025.
A debate on children's health is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons Chamber on Thursday 10 July 2025. The subject for the debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate will be led by Dr Simon Opher MP.