SEND Support UK 2026: What the Reform Proposals Mean for Families
A plain-English guide to what the government proposed, what remains undecided, and the position after the formal consultation closed on 18 May 2026.
England: source corrections on 22 September 2026. The February White Paper and consultation did not themselves change EHCP eligibility or remove an existing plan. Later implementation guidance does describe support and funding being introduced now. This page separates those developments from proposals for future legislation; it is an editorial source check, not qualified legal advice.
Experts at Hand: what the published offer says
DfE’s parent guidance, published 5 June 2026, describes local offers beginning from September 2026. Health and education professionals work alongside mainstream staff; the early focus is group and whole-class approaches. A diagnosis is not required for this needs-based offer.
The local authority and integrated care board design the local offer, which develops in phases. This does not mean every Kent school has every specialist available today or that a child is guaranteed an individual therapy block. Ask the setting what is available, how concerns are raised and how families are involved.
Keep existing support in view. DfE explicitly says the offer is additional to EHCP provision and existing health services. If specified Section F support is missing, ask the council how it will secure it; a new service should not be used to replace that duty.
Inclusive Mainstream Fund: a useful question for your school
The 2026–27 schools methodology applies to mainstream state-funded schools in England. It sets out funding, permitted use and accountability, including publishing an inclusion strategy by 31 December 2026. The strategy should explain how the school identifies and meets needs across its cohort.
Ask how families will contribute, what barriers the strategy addresses and where it will be published. A whole-school funding allocation is distinct from the evidence and provision required for an individual child; it does not introduce a new EHCP eligibility threshold.
Therapy and assessment routes
For a current concern, ask the responsible NHS service, GP, school or council which referral route applies. Kent routes differ by service and age. Do not wait for a new programme if urgent health or education support is needed.
Where therapy educates or trains, section 21(5) treats it as special educational provision. Whether specific OT or speech-and-language support belongs in Section F depends on its purpose and the evidence, not the therapist’s job title. Start with existing reports and free advice before considering paid evidence.
Separate Kent facts from national announcements
This page does not assume Kent is in a particular pilot or publish undated local caseload, overspend or transport-cost figures. Use current KCC and NHS publications for a named local scheme’s scope, access and start date. IASK is an information and advice service; Kent PACT is the parent-carer forum.
What to do for an individual case now
Use the current statutory assessment test in section 36(8) and the later plan test in section 37. A proposed “most complex needs” threshold does not replace them. An existing plan can be amended or ceased only through the applicable legal process; a consultation does not freeze a plan permanently either.
For a current difficulty, use our Kent application guide, annual-review guide or appeal guide. Missing existing Section F provision generally needs a complaint or enforcement route, rather than an appeal against non-delivery itself. Check deadlines and ask IASK or IPSEA about the circumstances.
Official updates to follow
The main SEND consultation closed on 18 May 2026. Two separate consultations on upfront mainstream funding and education otherwise than at school closed on 18 September 2026. Their closure does not itself enact a rule. Check the official publication records for responses, legislation and guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Does a school’s new funding guarantee a therapy appointment?
No. Check the actual local offer and the child’s separate assessment and statutory provision.
Does this change DLA?
The SEND consultation did not itself change child DLA eligibility. Use the DLA guide and current DWP rules.