SEND White Paper Published
- Feb 25
- 5 min read
The Government has now published detailed SEND reform proposals and opened a 12 week consultation.
These proposals sit alongside the wider Schools White Paper.
The Schools White Paper sets out the Government’s proposed reforms to education, including changes to SEND support, mainstream inclusion, accountability, curriculum, attendance and the role of special and alternative provision.
Together they set out significant changes to how SEND support would work in future.
However, it is important to be clear that nothing changes immediately. The current system remains in place unless and until legislation is passed.
Below is a summary of what is being proposed and what it could mean for families.
Current System Remains in Place
Until new legislation begins, the current SEND system remains fully in place.
All existing duties, legal rights and funding routes continue. Local authorities must continue to meet their statutory responsibilities.
Individual Support Plans
All children and young people with identified SEND would have an Individual Support Plan(ISP).
Schools and colleges would have a legal duty to create and maintain these plans. This is stronger than the current SEN Support arrangements and means settings could not refuse to plan, record or review support.
However, an Individual Support Plan is not the same as an EHCP. EHCPs would remain for children with the most complex needs and would continue to carry legal enforceability and access to Tribunal.
At this stage, Individual Support Plans appear to sit at school level. Disputes about ISPs would go through strengthened complaints procedures rather than Tribunal. The detail of how ISPs will be enforced, and what minimum standards must be delivered, will be critical and is part of the consultation.
Three Layers of Support
Mainstream settings would be expected to deliver a strong universal inclusive offer. On top of this there would be three flexible layers:
Targeted
Small group interventions and reasonable adjustments delivered by school staff.
Targeted Plus
Support from a new Experts at Hand service, including speech and language therapists, educational psychologists and occupational therapists. This would also include use of Inclusion Bases in mainstream schools and time limited placements where needed.
Specialist
For children with the most complex needs. New Specialist Provision Packages would set out clearly what support a child is entitled to across education, health and care. EHCPs would be based on these packages.
Children would be able to move between layers as needs change.
What Counts as “Complex Needs”?
The documents refer to children with the most complex needs but do not yet clearly define how complexity will be determined.
We do not yet have detail on thresholds, assessment criteria or how decisions will be made in practice. This will be set out through Specialist Provision Packages, a new needs assessment framework and an updated Code of Practice. This is likely to be a key area for consultation feedback.
Transition Arrangements and Existing EHCPs
Any child who already has an EHCP, or has been assessed as needing one when legislation begins, would keep their EHCP and its provision until the end of their current phase of education, unless they choose to move earlier.
For example:
• Children in early years would keep their EHCP until the end of primary.
• Children in primary would keep it until the end of primary.
• Children in secondary would keep it until the end of secondary.
After legislation takes effect, children with existing EHCPs would have a new needs assessment as they approach the end of each phase of education.
If they require a Specialist Provision Package:
• A new EHCP would be created based on the national package.
• An Individual Support Plan would set out day to day delivery.
If they do not:
• They would move to an Individual Support Plan in mainstream.
• They would receive support through Universal and Targeted layers.
• They would retain their existing EHCP until the end of that academic year.
The first cohort expected to transition would be pupils at the end of primary, secondary and post 16 in 2029/30. Assessments would begin in September 2029, with moves into the new system from September 2030.
Tribunals and Legal Rights
The SEND Tribunal is not being removed.
For children who have an EHCP, parents will still be able to appeal decisions about assessments, the content of the plan and placement.
However, Individual Support Plans do not appear to carry Tribunal rights. Disputes about ISPs would instead go through strengthened complaints procedures, including panels with independent SEND expertise.
This means Tribunal protection remains linked to EHCP status.
18–25 Provision
The legal right to an EHCP up to age 25 remains.
Young people approaching post 16 and post 19 transitions would be reassessed under the new framework. If they meet the Specialist Provision Package threshold, they would continue with an EHCP. If not, they may move to an Individual Support Plan in further education or college.
There is stronger emphasis on preparation for adulthood, employment, supported internships and independent living. The detailed criteria for post 16 and post 19 continuation have not yet been fully defined.
Alternative Provision Reform
Alternative Provision would have a stronger system wide role.
Expertise in supporting children whose needs present as disruptive or unsafe behaviour would be used more proactively through:
• Outreach support into mainstream schools• Time limited placements to assess and address needs before reintegration• Longer term placements where necessary• Stronger focus on progression into post 16 provision and employment
Special Schools and Independent Provision
Special schools, alternative provision and specialist post 16 settings would continue to educate children with the most complex needs and would also act as outreach hubs to support mainstream settings.
The Government also intends to change the law relating to independent special schools to ensure placements are suitable and that local authorities pay what is described as a reasonable price.
Accountability and Ofsted
Ofsted has emphasised that schools will be held to account for their inclusive practice and the quality of support they provide for children with additional needs.
Schools would be legally required to publish an Inclusion Strategy setting out how SEND resources are used. Inspection would specifically consider inclusive practice.
Local authorities and Integrated Care Boards would be intervened with where standards are not met.
What is a White Paper?
A White Paper is not a law. It sets out the Government’s proposals and direction of travel. It does not change the law on its own.
What Happens Next?
The consultation is open for 12 weeks.
The Government will review feedback and may revise proposals.
If legal changes are required, a Bill must be introduced to Parliament, debated, amended and approved before becoming law.
Some changes may instead be introduced through updated policy or statutory guidance.
You can read the consultation and respond here
The consultation is open until 18 May 2026
Alongside the Schools White Paper and SEND Reform consultation, the Department for Education (DfE) has published a series of clear, accessible summary guides outlining the key proposals and reforms. These documents are designed to help parents, carers and professionals better understand what is being proposed and what it could mean for children and young people with SEND.
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