The UK Government has published new plans to reform support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England. The plans include potentially major changes to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
Set to be implemented from 2029 onwards, children with SEND will be categorised under either needing a Targeted level of support (pupils in mainstream schools) or Specialist levels of support (children with the most complex needs, who may require EHCPs). This means that EHCPs will be available only to those with the most complex needs. EHCPs will also be reviewed at different milestones, such as when leaving primary school.
The government expects that from summer 2029 most SEND children will have an Individual Support Plan (ISP), rather than an EHCP, which will be digital information on the child’s needs that the school must produce for every SEND child in collaboration with caregivers. The new system is set to then start from September 2030.
What this might mean for you and your family
It’s being reported that children and young people with spectrum disorders, such as ADHD and autism, may not be eligible for future EHCPs. We don’t have any information yet on whether a child or young person with an existing EHCP plan due to a spectrum disorder might be reconsidered at some point. We also don’t have enough information yet to understand what dispute and resolution steps may be in place, for families and caregivers who might disagree with a decision to not award an EHCP or otherwise.
It’s important to note that nothing is going to change soon. It’ll be years until any changes are actually implemented, giving everyone time to understand everything and to adjust.
Live updates on the situation are being provided by BBC News here.
Why this is all happening
The announcement has been made as part of the Schools White Paper, covering proposals regarding SEND that have been in ongoing consultation. Changes in SEND provision are being considered as the current system is considered insufficient or “broken”, including by independent public spending group The National Audit Office. The cost of SEND support has increased significantly over recent years, with around 1 in 5 pupils receiving special educational needs support.
Around £4bn is pledged by the government for the changes to happen, to be spent across three years. The overall focus is to ensure earlier and more consistent support for young people in mainstream education settings. Education Secretary Bridged Philipson has said that she wants support to stretch “from birth to workplace” for all SEND young people. Philipson also said that the current situation “works well for some children but not all.”
How the pledged money will be spent
| Which funding? | How much? | When? | What for? |
| Inclusive Mainstream Fund | £1.6 billion | 2026-2029 | Broad inclusive provision funding (e.g. targeted and small group interventions for language, staff support, adaptive teaching styles) |
| Experts at Hand | £1.8 billion | 2026-2029 | Local Authority commissioned bank of specialists (e.g. Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychology) |
| Best Start Family Hubs (SEND Offer) | £200 million | Not stated | To equip hubs with SEND support |
| Teacher Training for SEND | £200 million | 2026-2029 | Training courses across multiple types of SEND for all teaching staff |
| High Needs Provisional Capital Allocation | £3.74 billion | 2025-2030 | SEND capital funding (buildings) to create around 60,000 ‘specialist places’ and ‘inclusion bases’ for all secondary schools |
What our view is on it all
We hear from families on the TSA Support Line regularly about struggles to either receive SEND support and/or a EHCP. Reform and investment in SEND support is certainly welcomed, as is the understanding that support interventions must happen earlier and for all children and young people. As a member of the Council for Disabled Children, we support their view that more integrated support in mainstream school for SEND should also be welcomed.
Although these things should be seen as much needed progress, the announcement will no doubt leave many families in the TSC community confused or worried about the potential loss of EHCPs, either for children and young people who have them already or might do in the future. The SEND system needs an overhaul, but it is vital that no child or young person loses support that could help them to thrive.
The TSA also feels that there is not enough information at this point to develop a full picture of the situation, which is going to understandably cause more confusion than needed. We hope for more information as soon as possible to give better clarity as, presently, we cannot give a full view on such little detail.
We will be monitoring this reform very closely and will continue to keep the TSC community updated.
