SEND Reform Update: Consultation Closes and Next Steps for Waltham Forest

The Government's SEND consultation has now closed.

Thank you to everyone who attended our workshops, completed our surveys and shared their views

. We received a significant amount of feedback from local families, which has helped shape Waltham Forest Parent Forum's response to the consultation.

Our response reflects the experiences, concerns and priorities raised by parent carers across the borough. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to contribute.

Read the responses

You can read:

• Waltham Forest Parent Forum Full Response: Read here

• Waltham Forest Parent Forum Summary Response: Read here

• London Parent Carer Forum Network Response: Read here

• National Network of Parent Carer Forums Response

While the consultation was national, these responses provide different perspectives. Our response reflects the views of Waltham Forest families, the London response highlights themes raised across the capital, and the National Network response brings together feedback from Parent Carer Forums across England.

What are the proposed reforms?

The proposed SEND reforms represent one of the biggest changes to the SEND system in a generation.

The reforms place a strong emphasis on earlier support within mainstream settings and introduce statutory Individual Support Plans (ISPs) as part of a new graduated approach to support. The Government hopes this will improve inclusion and reduce the need for Education, Health and Care Plans.

However, many questions remain around legal protections, accountability, funding, implementation and what these changes could mean for children and young people currently supported through Education, Health and Care Plans.

What happens next?

Although the consultation has closed, the reform process is continuing.

Local authorities are now developing Local Inclusion Plans as part of wider SEND reform and financial recovery arrangements. These plans are expected to set out how mainstream education will become more inclusive, how support will be provided earlier and how reliance on Education, Health and Care Plans can be reduced.

These plans are particularly important as local authorities work with Government to address High Needs Block deficits. Many local authorities are expected to seek Government support through arrangements that could see up to 90% of historic SEND deficits written off in exchange for implementing agreed reform plans.

Alongside this, local areas are beginning to consider how initiatives such as Experts at Hand could operate in practice. This proposal, which was highlighted within the White Paper, aims to provide specialist advice and support directly to schools and settings. Further guidance and funding announcements are expected in the coming months.

How is WFPF involved?

We continue to meet regularly with education, health and social care partners to discuss the implications of the proposed reforms and ensure that the voices of Waltham Forest families are represented.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.