SEND Reform in England: Where Are We Now?

There has been a lot of discussion about the UK Government’s plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. For families, schools and professionals, it can be difficult to keep track of what has actually happened, what is still being proposed, and what might change in the years ahead.

So, where are we now? September 2026

The short answer is that the Government has moved beyond simply talking about SEND reform. A major Schools White Paper has been published, the main SEND consultation has closed, legislation is planned, and some elements of the proposed new system are already taking shape.

However, the existing SEND system remains in place, and the most significant changes are still some way off.

The SEND White Paper has been published.

On 23 February 2026, the Government published its Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, alongside its dedicated SEND consultation, SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First.

This marked an important step in the Government's plans to change the way SEND provision works in England.

The consultation ran until 18 May 2026 and attracted nearly 10,000 responses.

The Government is now considering those responses. As of the latest parliamentary update in July, it had not yet published its formal response.

That response is therefore one of the key things to watch next.

What happens next with the SEND Reforms?

The Government has said that legislation will be needed to introduce many of the proposed reforms.

The Education for All Bill, announced in the May 2026 King's Speech, is intended to provide the legislative framework for these changes.

However, the Bill has not yet been introduced to Parliament, and no exact introduction date has been confirmed.

The proposed legislation is expected to cover several significant areas, including:

• a new Individual Support Plan (ISP) for children and young people with SEND;

• National Inclusion Standards for mainstream education settings;

• changes to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs);

• new Specialist Provision Packages; - click for Government summary

• stronger oversight of independent special schools; and

• transitional arrangements designed to protect children and young people as the new system is introduced.

For families currently navigating the SEND system, these proposals raise important questions about legal rights, funding, and access to support.

Is the Government already making changes?

Yes.

Although the proposed legislation has not yet become law, the Government has begun investing in and developing parts of the infrastructure that will underpin the new system.

One example is the Experts at Hand programme.

The idea is to give mainstream schools greater access to specialist expertise, helping them support children with SEND without relying solely on specialist placements.

The Government has announced around £1.8 billion over three years for this programme, with initial delivery beginning in September 2026.

The Government has also announced a £429 million SEND and local-authority transformation fund for 2026–27, intended to support local authorities as the system develops.

These investments matter because they show reform is not simply about changing legislation. The Government is also attempting to change how support is delivered on the ground.

What about EHCPs?

For many parents and carers, this is probably the biggest question.

There has been considerable concern about whether EHCPs will disappear altogether.

At present, the proposal is not simply to abolish EHCPs.

Instead, the Government is proposing changes to the way support is organised, with Specialist Provision Packages playing a central role for children with more complex needs.

Under the proposed system, an EHCP would still provide a legal entitlement to the support specified in the package.

Perhaps most importantly for families who already have an EHCP, the Government has indicated that changes to support received through existing EHCP arrangements are not expected before at least September 2030.

That means parents should not assume that their child's existing EHCP is about to disappear.

The current system remains in place while the new legislation is developed and introduced.

What is the proposed timetable?

The reform programme will take several years.

The broad picture currently looks like this:

Milestone	Current position
Schools/SEND White Paper	Published February 2026
SEND consultation	Closed 18 May 2026
Government response	Awaited
Education for All Bill	Planned but not yet introduced
Proposed new SEND system	Expected from September 2029
Changes affecting existing EHCP arrangements	Not expected before September 2030
Transition	Expected to take several years

This is important because there is sometimes a tendency to assume that a proposal announced by Government immediately becomes a change in the law.

It doesn't.

A considerable amount of work remains.

More consultations are already taking place.

The Government has also continued its work on specific areas of SEND provision.

In July 2026, it launched a consultation relating to Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS). This includes provision for children who cannot appropriately attend school and aspects of alternative and online education.

The Government has also consulted on upfront funding for mainstream schools, including proposals for a new local SEND inclusion funding formula.

These consultations form part of the wider move towards the proposed new SEND system.

Why does all this matter?

For families, the changes could eventually affect some of the most important parts of the SEND system:

• how children are identified as having additional needs;

• the support available in mainstream schools;

• access to specialist provision;

• EHCPs and legal entitlements;

• funding arrangements;

• the responsibilities of schools and local authorities; and

• how disagreements between families and education providers are dealt with.

But it is important to distinguish between what the Government has proposed and what has actually become law.

At the moment, the proposals are still moving through the consultation and legislative process.

What should parents and professionals be watching?

Several key developments are worth watching over the coming months.

1. The Government's response to the SEND consultation

This is probably the most immediate milestone.

The consultation generated nearly 10,000 responses, so its publication should indicate how the Government intends to take the proposals forward.

2. The Education for All Bill

Once the Bill is introduced, we will be able to see the proposed legislation in much greater detail.

Parliamentary scrutiny will also provide an opportunity to debate the proposals and potentially amend them.

3. The detail around EHCPs

For parents, the detail will matter enormously.

The important questions are not simply whether EHCPs remain, but how the proposed system will operate, what legal protections families will have, how provision will be specified and funded, and what routes of challenge will remain available.

4. What happens to mainstream inclusion

The Government's plans place considerable emphasis on improving mainstream SEND provision.

The success of that approach will depend not just on new standards and guidance, but on whether schools have the funding, staffing, training and specialist support necessary to deliver them.

So, where does that leave us?

We are essentially at the transition point between consultation and legislation.

The Government has set out its direction of travel. It has published its White Paper, consulted on the proposals, announced planned legislation and begun investing in elements of the future system.

But the new SEND system is not yet in place.

For families currently receiving support, the existing SEND framework continues to operate.

The next major step is the Government's response to the SEND consultation, followed by the introduction and scrutiny of the Education for All Bill.

And that is where the detail really matters.

For anyone supporting a child or young person with SEND, the headlines can sometimes make reform sound immediate. In reality, the proposed changes are likely to unfold over several years, with the transition potentially continuing into the early 2030s.

For parents, carers, schools, and professionals, this is a time to stay informed, ask questions, and pay close attention to the details as the legislation develops.