'My support plan was my lifeline - I went to Downing Street to tell Keir not to scrap them'

A disabled student has travelled to 10 Downing Street in her wheelchair to deliver a heartfelt open letter - signed by more than 10,000 people - to Keir Starmer asking him not to scrap EHCPs.

Nineteen-year-old Hannah Steadman, who has several chronic conditions - including epilepsy and autism - tells the Prime Minister how school became so challenging she felt she “couldn’t go in any more” until her “life changed” after getting an educational health and care plan (EHCP) two years ago.

She is writing amidst fears that the government white paper, to be published in the autumn detailing reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, could see EHCPs being scrapped.

She adds: “Thanks to my EHC plan, I’m now looking to the future and planning to start a Level 3 Acting and Performance qualification at college in September.

“It is no exaggeration to say this plan completely transformed my experience of school.“

Before getting her EHCP, aged 16, south Londoner Hannah tells Sir Keir: “By this point I was at home because my school had deemed me attending a health risk and a safeguarding issue.”

Describing how her plan meant she had transport, so she could get to school, how she had someone to push her wheelchair and her lessons were moved to the ground floor, making them accessible, she then tells the Prime Minister: “I’d like to invite you to meet with me, and a group of other disabled young people, to talk about the difference an EHC plan has made to us.”

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Hannah, who is supported by the charity Ambitious About Autism, says: “I was really excited to go to Downing Street. Knowing that 10,000 people have signed my letter feels incredible.

“When I was experiencing the worst of my issues in school it felt like no-one cared, so to know that many people are behind me is really great.

“I wanted to write this letter and to share my story, because I truly feel that having an EHCP was the thing that salvaged what was left of my education, and I want other young people to have that legal right to support too.

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“Without an EHCP I would never have finished school as I was too exhausted to keep pushing back and fighting to get my needs met.

“Education opens up so many doors, and every young person should have the same right to an education, and the same standard of education. For me an ECHP was the thing that helped me to achieve that.

“I don’t think the government really understands the impact of what would happen if they do scrap EHCPs, and how many lives that would disrupt.’

Stephen Kingdom, campaign manager for The DIsabled Children’s Partnership - which represents 1.7 million children - says ECHPs are essential to ensure children with additional needs have the same opportunity as their friends to have an education.

He says: “The SEND community is not asking for anything special - we are simply fighting for an ordinary education, an ordinary commute to school and a seat in a classroom where a child can learn.”