Proposed SEND reforms: what is changing and what your rights are now

The position on 1 November 2026

The government published its schools white paper and main SEND reform consultation on 23 February 2026. The main consultation closed on 18 May. At this check, the official consultation service says feedback is being reviewed before the government publishes its response and next steps. The proposed replacement arrangements described below are not current individual entitlements or reasons to refuse an existing statutory right.

Current law still matters

The Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations and current Code of Practice remain the starting point for EHC assessments, plans and reviews. Schools and colleges also have existing SEN and Equality Act duties. A council must apply the law relevant to a present request or decision. Ask for the legal basis if someone says a future reform means they cannot assess, provide support or continue a plan now.

Earlier help in mainstream education

The proposals aim to make support available earlier in ordinary education settings, with stronger expectations for inclusive teaching and access to specialists. Proposed national inclusion standards would describe evidence-informed support. The policy also envisages additional specialist input through an Experts at Hand offer. These plans describe an intended system; they do not guarantee that a named service or intervention is already available to every learner locally.

Individual Support Plans

The government has proposed Individual Support Plans, often shortened to ISPs, for learners receiving targeted, targeted-plus or specialist support. Settings would develop these with families and young people to record needs and help. The proposal includes stronger school complaint arrangements. An ISP discussed under the reforms must not be treated as automatically replacing a current EHC plan or carrying identical enforceable rights. Ask exactly which current legal process applies.

Specialist Provision Packages and future EHC plans

The proposals would link future EHC plans to nationally defined Specialist Provision Packages for children and young people needing that level of specialist support. The government envisages expert development and testing of the packages. This could change who receives an EHC plan and how provision is described in the future. Details, safeguards, assessment rules and challenge routes depend on the final policy and legislation.

Proposed timing and transition

The published programme expects new legislation to take effect from September 2029, with assessments under a new system then beginning. It states that support provided through existing EHC plans would not change because of these reforms before at least September 2030. These are proposed transition arrangements, not a promise that every existing plan remains unchanged regardless of current lawful reviews or individual needs. Check later official updates before relying on a future date.

Education otherwise than at school

A further EOTAS consultation opened in July and closed on 18 September 2026. It considered oversight, quality, health-related absence, online provision and linking arrangements to named education settings. The government’s explanation says any changes would be from September 2030 at the earliest and require parliamentary approval. Current EOTAS rights and duties continue. Do not assume a proposed link to a school means an immediate lawful requirement to move back there.

Local reform activity is already happening

Local services are preparing and receiving investment while national proposals are considered. On 29 October 2026, the government announced approval of local SEND reform plans and further work with other areas. It linked approval to high-needs stability funding. Approval of a local plan was expressly not approval of all current service performance. A local improvement programme does not, by itself, change the law governing an individual assessment or plan.

Questions families and young people can ask

Ask whether a statement is current law, guidance, a local initiative or a proposal. Ask for the document, publication date, start date and any transition rules. Useful questions include who must deliver support, how individual needs will be assessed, how disagreements will be challenged and what happens while a dispute is unresolved. Keep a copy of the answer alongside the person’s current plan and review records.

Getting help and following updates

Continue requesting needed support and protecting complaint or appeal deadlines now. SENDIASS and IPSEA can explain current rights. Use the official consultation page for published documents and accessible versions; the closed consultation is not an open route for submitting a response. Check for later government responses, bills, enacted legislation and commencement dates. A white paper, consultation response and Act coming into force are different stages.

Plans to change SEND support

Proposals and current law

What the proposals include

Changes would happen in stages

Ask for support now

What you can do next

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