Changes to the SEND system in education has been announced by the government. The bill is often referred to as the 'SEND white paper', and was introduced in early 2026.
What is the schools white paper going to change?
The changes are designed to ensure every child who needs it receives SEND support from the start of school. Schools will have a legal duty to create an Individual Support Plan for each child.
In addition, the EHCP process will be reformed, and the government will have more oversight of specialist schools.
What do the changes actually entail?
The SEND white paper 2026 sets out the following reforms:
- training for teachers to enable staff to adapt to the needs of the child
- calm environments, which better suit neurodiverse children
- early help from the start of a child's education.
The above 3 changes will adequately support most children, but for those needing extra care, the following levels will be available:
Level 1 (Targeted)
Extra support, including help with sensory or speech and language needs. Steps taken will be recorded in the child's Individual Support Plan, developed by their school in partnership with parents.
Level 2 (Targeted Plus)
Specialist support from professionals such as Speech and Language Therapists or Psychologists. All support will be recorded in the Individual Support Plan.
Level 3 (Specialist)
Complex needs will be supported through specialist day to day assistance and an EHCP. The support received will be recorded in the Individual Support Plan.
What is an Individual Support Plan?
Under the schools white paper, every SEND child will have an Individual Support Plan in place, which ensures their needs are recorded and addressed. It will serve as a digital record of all of the support they receive. Both teachers and parents will be able to access the plan.
Individual Support Plans will be a legal requirement for all SEND children.
What will happen to EHCPs?
EHCPs will stay in place in their current form for the next few years. However, they will become digital, and will also include information about physical disabilities.
Children with EHCPs will also have an Individual Support Plan put in place. This will plan and record the day-to-day support that the school delivers.
Will children lose their EHCPs?
EHCPs are not being removed, and children over the age of 7 will keep their existing EHCPs until they are 16. Those in specialist schools will also keep their EHCPs.
For children under the age of 7 with an EHCP, an assessment will be eventually carried out to ascertain whether the child's needs would be better met with an Individual Support Plan.
What will change in schools?
£200 million in funding is being spent on training to ensure that all teachers across the UK can support childrens' unique needs.
In addition, all secondary schools will have an 'Inclusion Base', which will serve as a quiet space for those with sensory needs, for teaching, and small group work.
The Experts at Hand programme
The Experts at Hand programme brings specialist support into mainstream schools, through speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and educational psychology. Through the availability of this service, less children will require EHCPs.
How soon will the changes come in?
Nearly 2 billion is being invested in local authorities over the next 3 years for the new SEND care to be rolled out through teacher training and Experts at Hand provision. It will take time for the changes to be organised locally and put into place in schools, but by 2028 there should be more support available nationwide.
