SEND Reform 2026 White Paper, in Plain English

On 23 February 2026, the Department for Education published the Schools White Paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving. Alongside it sits a separate but linked consultation, SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First. Together these documents propose the biggest changes to England's SEND system since the Children and Families Act 2014.

The reforms were presented against a background of rising demand and financial pressure. A November 2025 parliamentary debate included a statement that 98% of Kent SEND tribunals between 2021 and 2024 were “successful for parents”, but Hansard does not provide the underlying dataset or define “successful”. That statement should not be treated as a complete-win rate or proof of why decisions were challenged.

The reforms were presented as an attempt to reset the system. What changes, if anything, depends on the government response and any legislation approved by Parliament. Until then, families should use the law and guidance currently in force.

What is the SEND White Paper 2026?

Two separate documents that need to be read together:

1. The Schools White Paper "Every Child Achieving and Thriving" (DfE, 23 Feb 2026). The broader vision document covering school improvement, curriculum, attendance, and SEND.
2. The SEND Reform consultation "Putting Children and Young People First" (DfE, open 23 February to 18 May 2026). The detailed SEND-specific proposals on which the public was invited to respond.

The official documents are available at:

• gov.uk: Every Child Achieving and Thriving
• consult.education.gov.uk: closed SEND Reform consultation record
• Commons Library research briefing CBP-10550 (the most readable summary written by Parliament's research staff)

What's actually changing

Six headline proposals:

1. A four-tier SEND support model

The current system is essentially binary: SEN Support (school-level) or EHCP (legal plan). The proposed model has four levels:

• Universal: Good quality teaching for everyone, calm classroom environments, early identification.
• Targeted: Extra support inside mainstream schools (small group work, in-class TA support, accommodations).
• Individual Support Plan (ISP): A new tier for children with moderate needs who would currently sit at the lower end of EHCPs.
• EHCP: Reserved for the most complex needs, retaining its current legal force.

2. Individual Support Plans (ISPs) replace lower-tier EHCPs

The most contested proposal. ISPs would be a lighter-touch document compared to EHCPs. The white paper is unclear on whether ISPs would carry tribunal rights or be enforceable in the same way as EHCPs. This is the single biggest concern raised by parent campaigners.

3. Inclusion Bases inside mainstream schools

"Inclusion bases" are dedicated specialist spaces inside ordinary primary and secondary schools, offering on-site SEND support without sending the child out of mainstream. The aim is to keep more children in their local school with structured support.

4. 6,500 additional SEND-trained teachers

An expanded SEND workforce, including dedicated SENCOs in every school and SEND-specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

5. Local SEND Reform Plans by autumn 2026

Each local area partnership (council + NHS + schools) will publish their own SEND Reform Plan setting out how the national framework will work locally.

6. Inclusive Mainstream Fund (2026/27 academic year)

New funding stream for schools to improve their universal SEND offer. Distinct from the High Needs Block which currently funds EHCPs.

Are EHCPs being abolished?

No. This is the headline question and the answer matters: EHCPs are not being abolished. The proposals reserve them for children with the most complex needs while moving moderate cases to ISPs.

Crucially, all existing EHCPs are protected. The Department for Education has stated that no changes to the support given by existing EHCPs will begin before September 2030. Your current legal rights to apply for an EHCP, to appeal to the SEND Tribunal, and to maintain your existing plan all remain unchanged for now.

The concern is what happens at the boundary: if a child currently sits at the lower end of EHCP eligibility, would they get an EHCP or an ISP under the new system? The white paper does not answer this in detail. The consultation invites views.

What is an Individual Support Plan (ISP)?

An ISP is a new proposed document that would sit between general school SEN Support and an EHCP. The proposals describe ISPs as:

• Standardised across local areas (currently SEN Support varies enormously between councils)
• Owned by the school, with input from the local authority and parents
• Reviewed annually
• Focused on identifying needs and the support each school will provide

What is not yet clear:

• Whether ISPs would be legally enforceable in the way EHCPs are (Section 42 of the Children and Families Act)
• Whether parents could appeal an ISP decision to the SEND Tribunal
• Whether ISPs would carry funding entitlement attached to the child
• How the boundary between ISP and EHCP would be drawn in practice

These open questions were central to many consultation responses from families and SEND organisations. Their legal effect depends on the final policy and any legislation; the consultation document alone does not replace existing rights.

Reform timeline 2026 → 2030

• 23 Feb 2026: White paper and consultation published
• 18 May 2026: Consultation closed
• After consultation: Government response and any proposed legislation; check the official publication for the current status
• 2026/27 academic year: Inclusive Mainstream Fund opens, SEND CPD begins
• Autumn 2026: Local SEND Reform Plans published by each area
• 2027 onwards: Any required legislation passes through Parliament
• September 2030: Earliest date any changes to existing EHCPs would take effect

What it means for Kent families

Kent has the largest SEND population of any local authority in England, around 26,000 children with EHCPs. The white paper has specific implications for Kent:

• The pressure on private placements should ease, in theory. Kent's £107 million per year on private special schools reflects the gap in state special school capacity. The proposed expansion of inclusion bases in mainstream schools is partly aimed at reducing this gap. Whether it works depends on how well the Inclusive Mainstream Fund funds Kent specifically.
• The Kent SEND Reform Plan (autumn 2026) will be a key document. KCC will need to publish how the national framework works in Kent. This is the document Kent parents should engage with locally once published.
• Check which appeal rights apply. The effect of any proposed ISP model depends on the final legislation and guidance. Hansard's November 2025 Kent statement does not by itself establish how a future system would operate. See our guide to the Kent SEND Tribunal statistics.
• Two new state special schools, originally planned for 2026, now delayed to 2028. The reform timetable doesn't fix this. Kent families needing specialist placement should plan accordingly.

Concerns from parent campaigners

The May 9th 2026 #SaveOurChildrensRights protest in London and regional centres set out the campaigning position. The main concerns:

1. Possible differences in enforceability. Families and campaigners have asked whether any ISP model would carry the same appeal and enforcement rights as an EHCP. The answer depends on the final legislation, not on historic tribunal percentages.
2. Two-tier framework. EHCP children would retain rights, ISP children would not. The boundary is opaque and would be drawn by the local authority, the same body parents are appealing against.
3. Local Reform Plans risk a postcode lottery. Each local area writes its own. Provision could vary even more than today.
4. Funding follows pupils less clearly under ISPs. Schools may receive block funding rather than child-specific funding, weakening accountability.
5. Workforce expansion takes years. 6,500 new SEND-trained teachers do not appear by autumn 2026, but the system reform timeline assumes they will.

The campaign hashtags are #SaveOurChildrensRights, #FixSEND, #SENDcrisis. Special Needs Jungle, IPSEA, Disability Rights UK and Contact have all published detailed analyses worth reading.

The consultation record and what happens next

The response window has closed. The official consultation page remains a record of the questions and documents. For the current position, use the Department for Education's SEND reform publication page and check for the government response, draft legislation or updated guidance.

Families can still contact their MP or relevant public body about policy, but that is separate from submitting a formal consultation response. Current statutory rights remain the starting point for an individual child's case.

What to do right now to protect your child

Five practical steps regardless of how the reforms land:

1. If your child should have an EHCP and doesn't, apply now. Existing rights are protected to September 2030. An EHCP issued under the current system gives your child enforceable provision through the tribunal route. See our Kent EHCP application guide.
2. Check the official post-consultation status. Separate proposals from changes that have actually become law or statutory guidance.
3. If you receive an appealable decision, check the right and deadline. Whether to appeal depends on the decision, legal test and evidence—not a headline percentage. See our Kent SEND Tribunal statistics guide and the step-by-step EHCP Appeal guide.
4. Keep detailed written records. Of every meeting, every decision, every promise made by school or local authority. If the system changes, the paper trail you build now becomes the evidence for any future challenge.
5. Engage with the campaigning community. Special Needs Jungle, SOS!SEN, IPSEA all run campaigns to keep enforceable rights in any final reform. Following them and amplifying their work via social media adds to the political pressure.

FAQ

What is the SEND White Paper 2026?

The Schools White Paper "Every Child Achieving and Thriving" (DfE, 23 Feb 2026) plus the SEND Reform consultation "Putting Children and Young People First". Together they propose the biggest SEND system change since 2014.

Is the Government stopping EHCPs?

No. EHCPs continue but are reserved for the most complex needs. New Individual Support Plans (ISPs) are proposed for moderate needs. Existing EHCPs are protected until at least September 2030.

What is an Individual Support Plan (ISP)?

A new proposed document sitting between school SEN Support and EHCPs. Owned by schools, with annual review. Tribunal rights and funding mechanism are still being decided.

When do the SEND reforms take effect?

The consultation closed on 18 May 2026. Check the official Department for Education publication for the government response and any later legislation or guidance. The consultation document itself did not change current EHCP law.

Can I still respond to the SEND Reform consultation?

No. The formal response window closed on 18 May 2026. The official consultation page remains available as a record; use the Department for Education publication page for subsequent updates.

What does the SEND White Paper mean for Kent families?

Kent has 26,000 EHCP children and £107m/year on private placements. The reforms aim to expand mainstream inclusion (welcome) but risk weakening tribunal rights for ISP children (concerning). Kent's local SEND Reform Plan due autumn 2026.

What can I do right now?

Use the current legal framework, do not delay an assessment request solely because reform was proposed, check any appeal right and deadline, keep written records, and follow official updates.

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Disclaimer: This article was written by a Kent parent with lived experience of the SEND system and facts were checked on 26 July 2026. It summarises proposals and does not treat them as enacted law. Always check the current position at gov.uk and seek free legal advice from IPSEA or Kent IASK on your specific situation.