A new research project is set to explore how Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) Reports could shape improvements in health and social care for people with learning disabilities. PFD Reports are issued by coroners in England and Wales after inquests when they believe action is required to avoid similar deaths occurring again.

Evidence consistently shows that people with learning disabilities face significantly reduced life expectancy and are more likely to die prematurely than the wider population. Yet in many cases, early deaths do not result in an inquest, meaning potential lessons may go unidentified. The study aims to examine the concerns raised by coroners and consider how those findings could better inform frontline services.

Funded by the NIHR School for Social Care Research, the project will analyse all relevant PFD Reports published since 2013. Led by Dr George Julian, alongside academic partners from the University of Bristol and Manchester Metropolitan University, the research will involve collaboration with people with learning disabilities, bereaved families, practitioners and advocacy groups.

Researchers hope to draw together key themes from the reports and identify practical steps for improving care. By sharing findings widely across the sector, the team aims to ensure that the warnings highlighted by coroners lead to meaningful change and help prevent avoidable deaths in the future.

The government has unveiled sweeping reforms to England’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, introducing new terminology and reshaping how support is delivered. Alongside existing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), families will soon encounter Individual Support Plans (ISPs), as well as three tiers of provision and forthcoming national inclusion standards. Ministers say the aim is to make help more consistent and easier to access.

One of the most significant proposals is that, by 2035, EHCPs will be reserved for pupils with the most complex needs. These legally binding documents outline a child’s requirements and the support local authorities must provide. Children who already have an EHCP will keep it until they complete their current phase of education, after which reassessments will begin from September 2029. Parents will still be able to request assessments and appeal decisions.

All pupils with SEND will instead receive an ISP, a new plan setting out day-to-day support and intended outcomes. Schools and colleges will draft these in consultation with families and review them annually. Concerns about ISPs must first go through school complaints procedures.

Support will be organised into “targeted”, “targeted plus” and “specialist” levels, depending on need. Only those receiving specialist provision packages are expected to qualify for EHCPs in future, with national inclusion standards due by 2028.

Disability and education campaigners have raised the alarm after reports in the national press suggested the government may cut back support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in its long-awaited Schools White Paper, expected early next week.

According to a report in The Times, ministers are considering tougher rules for access to statutory support, including reassessing children’s entitlement when they transfer to secondary school. The article claimed the aim would be to reduce what officials view as overly “rigid” legal duties, which have been linked to rising costs in the SEND system.

The leak also suggested that many pupils with less severe needs – including some children diagnosed with autism or ADHD – could lose eligibility for education, health and care plans (EHCPs). Instead, a tiered approach has been mooted, where children would start with standard support in mainstream schools and only move up to higher levels if necessary. Under the proposals, nationally designed “specialist provision packages” would be used to decide which needs qualify for the top tier.

Groups including Save Our Children’s Rights said stripping legal protections would not solve the crisis, arguing the existing law should be properly enforced instead. The National Autistic Society also criticised the way information was emerging through leaks, warning that repeated reassessments and weaker rights to challenge decisions would be unacceptable. The Department for Education insisted full details would be published shortly, describing the plans as an expansion of children’s rights and a move towards a more inclusive system.

The government has announced a 7% increase to the Minimum Income Guarantee for working-age disabled adults who receive social care, delivering an average annual boost of around £400. More than 150,000 people are expected to benefit from the above-inflation rise, with those qualifying for the disability premium able to retain up to £510 extra each year.

The Minimum Income Guarantee sets the amount councils must leave individuals with for personal spending after they have contributed towards the cost of their home-based care. Ministers say the uplift will help people manage essential outgoings such as groceries, energy bills and other daily expenses, as part of wider efforts to reform adult social care and promote greater independence.

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said the changes were aimed at easing financial strain on some of the most vulnerable in society. From April, he said, eligible adults would keep hundreds of pounds more of their income. The Personal Expenses Allowance for those in residential settings, along with the guarantee for people over 65, will rise by 3.8%.

Charities have offered a mixed response. Mencap welcomed the increase as progress, though it reiterated its call for social care to be free at the point of need. Disability Rights UK argued that the revised rate still falls short of what is required for a decent standard of living and urged a broader review of disability-related costs.

Ministers have unveiled a new National Cancer Plan aimed at tackling stark inequalities faced by disabled people, particularly those with learning disabilities. The strategy pledges to improve early diagnosis and provide more personalised care throughout treatment and recovery. An accompanying equality impact assessment acknowledges that disabled patients are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, attend A&E before receiving a diagnosis, and face a higher risk of death.

Evidence reviewed during the plan’s development found that people with learning disabilities are significantly less likely to be referred for urgent investigations when presenting so-called ‘red flag’ symptoms. Barriers include limited understanding among healthcare professionals and screening staff about reasonable adjustments, accessible communication and the specific needs of autistic people and those with learning disabilities.

The reforms are backed by a £2.3 billion investment, intended to fund 9.5 million extra diagnostic tests by 2029. This will include more scanners, expanded community diagnostic centres operating extended hours, and upgraded digital systems. Patients will also be offered the earliest available appointments across local NHS providers, while efforts to boost digital inclusion aim to ensure disabled people are not left behind.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said cancer outcomes should not depend on personal circumstances. Disability organisations have welcomed commitments to earlier identification and improved screening access, including engagement with manufacturers to develop mammography equipment suitable for people with physical impairments.

Around one in three autistic pupils have missed more than a month of school so far this academic year, with families citing poor mental health, physical illness and unsuitable placements as key reasons. The findings come from a new survey by the charity Ambitious about Autism.

The charity said many parents and young people feel they are being unfairly judged for non-attendance. Half of those who responded reported feeling blamed by the Government when school is missed, despite the barriers they face in accessing education.

The survey lands as ministers prepare to publish a long-awaited plan to overhaul the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. Expected reforms are likely to put greater emphasis on improving mainstream provision, where more than 70% of autistic pupils are currently educated. Ambitious about Autism argues that without properly funded support, mainstream schools will continue to struggle to meet needs, pushing more children out of learning.

The charity said its findings reflect Department for Education figures showing more than 60,000 autistic pupils in England are persistently absent, typically missing around a month or more across the school year. It is calling for better training, resources and consistent specialist support. Alongside this, it has launched its “Absence Notes” campaign, inviting autistic young people and families to share their experiences and sign a collective message urging the Government to ensure SEND reforms work in practice.

A Holyrood committee has called for a full review of how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism are assessed in Scotland, warning that long delays are leaving many people without vital support. The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee found that waiting times for neurodevelopmental assessments can stretch into years, with some health boards closing their lists entirely.

In a newly published report, the committee said growing demand for assessments reflects better awareness and historic underdiagnosis, rather than an increase in inappropriate referrals. Members argued that inconsistent access across the country is unfair and can prevent individuals from accessing reasonable adjustments, treatment options or support that would allow them to participate fully in education, work and society.

The committee is calling for a national standard for autism and ADHD assessments to ensure consistent, high-quality provision regardless of location. It also stressed the importance of clear and reliable pathways into post-diagnosis support, noting that a lack of diagnosis can leave people excluded from services even when their needs are evident. The report highlights that prolonged waits can push individuals into crisis, increasing pressure on already stretched services.

Alongside assessment reform, the committee recommended improved national monitoring of referrals and waiting times, including regular reporting and the development of a comprehensive data dashboard. It also urged a joined-up approach across health, social care, education and other public services, with better workforce planning, integrated funding, inclusive education and stronger support for families, to improve outcomes for neurodivergent people across Scotland.

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has rolled out a new electronic patient record system designed to improve how reasonable adjustments are identified and delivered for autistic people and those with learning disabilities. The digital approach aims to ensure that key information about patients’ needs is recorded clearly and used consistently across services.

Through a secure online portal, patients are now able to share important details at their first appointment, including communication preferences, neurodivergence, and any adjustments they require. Recording this information early is intended to reduce repetition for patients, cut down on administrative duplication for staff, and improve continuity of care across different teams and settings.

The new system also provides real-time data, allowing services to track patient journeys more effectively and identify pressures or gaps in support. By replacing retrospective audits with live information, teams can better understand outcomes, plan care more proactively and support safer, timelier discharges from services.

The records were redesigned in collaboration with people who have lived experience of autism and learning disabilities, alongside clinicians. Their input helped shape what information is collected, how it is described and how it is flagged within the system. The Trust said this co-designed approach ensures the records reflect real needs rather than assumptions, supporting more personalised care. Leaders at Kent and Medway say the digital infrastructure forms part of a wider programme to reduce inequalities and meet national expectations around reasonable adjustment flags in mental health services.