Following concerns consistently raised by families that the current SEND system wasn’t working effectively, the Government published proposals for a new system in February 2026. The consultation on these proposed Reforms ran until May 2026 and the Government is due to publish its response to feedback by the end of 2026.

The main aim of the SEND Reforms is to improve inclusion in mainstream settings, across all age groups. This means that the Reforms will change how support is delivered in nurseries and preschools, primary and secondary schools and Post 16 settings. The intention is that children and young people with SEND will get support earlier, without needing to wait for a diagnosis and before they reach crisis. By accessing quality support earlier, without having to wait for a diagnosis, the Government believe that needs won’t escalate and less Education, Health and Care plans will be needed.

Somethings have to happen now to make mainstreams settings more inclusive and to improve the support available for children and young people with SEND. Work has started to;

1. Provide more SEND training for Early Years Staff and Teachers (SEND and Inclusion Training)

2. Increase the support available to all settings from specialists such as Educational Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists (Experts at Hand)

3. Provide funding to all settings directly to increase inclusion (Mainstream Inclusion Fund)

4. Provide clear information about what support every child or young person should expect to be able to receive (Ordinarily Available Inclusive Offer)

5. Increase the number of Inclusion Bases in mainstream schools

The intention is that the work above will improve the mainstream experience before any changes are made to the current legal framework for SEND. Children and young people with an EHCP will not see any changes to this process until 2030 at the earliest.

The Reforms aim to move toward an inclusive, tiered framework from September 2029, with EHCP transitions rolling out around September 2030. Key features of the proposed new system include;

Tiered Support Model with four main layers of support:

• Universal: Adaptive, high-standard baseline teaching in mainstream classrooms, a clear ordinarily available inclusive offer with reasonable adjustments happening when needed.

• Targeted: Digital Individual Support Plans (ISPs) managed by schools for children with identified SEND who do not have an EHCP.

• Targeted Plus: Enhanced support including Inclusion Bases and Experts at Hand (such as speech therapists and psychologists working in mainstream settings).

• Specialist: Reserved for children with the most complex needs, backed by formal Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and Specialist Provision Packages.

Every child with SEND will have a digital, school-led ISP that replaces informal SEN support records and follows the child as they move settings. These plans are reviewed annually.

EHCPs will become much more selective, reserved strictly for children with the most severe and complex needs. Existing EHCP holders will be gradually reassessed during transitions.

EHCPs will maintain legal rights through SEND tribunals, but the new Individual Support Plans will use school-level complaints processes rather than independent tribunal appeals.

These changes are not yet agreed and may change following the public consultation.