The attainment gap between pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans and their peers has reached a record high, according to the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
The EPI’s 2026 Annual Report, published in July, found that progress on closing the wider disadvantage gap has stalled or reversed across all phases of education since the pandemic, and singled out pupils with EHCPs as falling further behind. It called for greater investment in the SEND workforce as part of the response.
Other recommendations included the introduction of proactive screening for SEND, targeted at groups known to be at risk of unmet or late-identified SEND needs and an evaluation of where curriculum, assessment, qualifications and school accountability measures are acting as obstacles to meeting children’s needs and securing better long-term outcomes.
“Narrowing the disadvantage gap, and improving the lives and life chances of those children and young people facing the greatest challenges, is the defining educational imperative of our age,” said Julie McCulloch, EPI chief executive.
Attainment gap for pupils with EHCPs hits record high, EPI warns
The attainment gap between pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans and their peers has reached a record high, according to the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
The EPI’s 2026 Annual Report, published in July, found that progress on closing the wider disadvantage gap has stalled or reversed across all phases of education since the pandemic, and singled out pupils with EHCPs as falling further behind. It called for greater investment in the SEND workforce as part of the response.
Other recommendations included the introduction of proactive screening for SEND, targeted at groups known to be at risk of unmet or late-identified SEND needs and an evaluation of where curriculum, assessment, qualifications and school accountability measures are acting as obstacles to meeting children’s needs and securing better long-term outcomes.
“Narrowing the disadvantage gap, and improving the lives and life chances of those children and young people facing the greatest challenges, is the defining educational imperative of our age,” said Julie McCulloch, EPI chief executive.
Charlotte Goddard