SEND Reform in 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving'
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
The Department for Education’s 2026 White Paper, ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’, sets out significant changes to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England. The reforms aim to create a more inclusive, consistent and earlier system of support for children with SEND.
A central theme of the reforms is a shift towards inclusion in mainstream schools, away from a system that relies heavily on specialist provision and legal plans. Schools will be expected to provide more individualised support as standard, supported by significant government funding (around £4 billion over three years) and specialist input.
The government wants children to receive help earlier in the process – often within weeks rather than months or years. This includes better identification of needs in Early Years settings and quicker access to interventions in school.
New system of support plans
One of the key structural changes is the introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for most pupils with SEND. The intention is for these to replace the current reliance on formal diagnoses for accessing help and aim to ensure support is based on need rather than labels. Whilst a significant number of local schools do already focus support on need, this unfortunately is not always the case.
At the same time, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will remain but these will be limited to children who have the most complex needs, providing a higher level of legal protection and specialist support.
A tiered model of provision
Support will be organised into levels: targeted, targeted-plus, specialist) allowing schools to match provision more flexibly to children’s needs without always requiring formal assessment processes.
Investment in support and services
The reforms are backed by significant funding which will include investment in:
· Funding for early intervention and inclusive practice in mainstream schools
· Investment in local specialist services, such as speech and language therapists and educational psychologists.
A more consistent national system
The reforms aim to reduce the current postcode lottery by introducing clearer national standards for SEND support, ensuring more consistency across local authorities and schools.
Changes will be introduced gradually over several years, with a full transition expected to be completed towards the end of the decade. During this period, existing EHCPs will be protected and reviewed over time.
In summary
The White Paper proposes a fundamental shift in SEND provision – from a reactive, diagnosis-led system to one focused on early intervention, inclusion and graduated support within mainstream education. While the reforms promise faster and broader support, their success will depend on effective implementation, sufficient funding and workforce capacity.
Have your say
If you’re a parent or carer, your voice is crucial.
Many parents know first-hand how challenging the current SEND system can be – long waits, difficult processes and the stress of fighting for the right support. These proposed changes could reshape that experience, for better or worse.
That’s why it’s so important that you share what’s working, what isn’t and what really needs to change. Your experiences can help make sure that the system works not just in policy but in real life for children and families.
You can take part in the consultation here:
Even a short response can make a difference.
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