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 briefing provides background to the public inquiry led by Robert Francis QC into serious failings in care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust before 2009. It also provides some information on the Government’s initial response to the Francis report, which was published on 6 February 2013.
The Francis Report (Report of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry) and the Government’s response (98 KB , PDF)
This briefing provides background to the public inquiry led by Robert Francis QC, established to examine why serious failures in care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust before 2009 were not acted on sooner by the various responsible organisations. It also provides some information on earlier reviews, and the Government’s initial response to the Francis report, which was published on 6 February 2013. Information on the Government’s detailed response to each of the Francis report’s 290 recommendations can be found in Hard Truths, the Journey to Putting Patients First, published on 19 November 2013.
The Francis Report (Report of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry) and the Government’s response (98 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
This briefing focuses on two disease-modifying dementia drugs that are currently being appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): lecanemab and donanemab
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.