SEND Support UK 2026: What the Reform Proposals Mean for Families

Why These Reforms Are Different

The UK has had SEND reform announcements before. The 2022 SEND Review, the 2023 SEND Improvement Plan — families were promised change and got very little. So it is completely reasonable to look at the 2026 Schools White Paper "Every Child Achieving and Thriving" with scepticism.

The proposals are broad in scope and were accompanied by funding announcements and an implementation outline. Those announcements are not the same as legally binding entitlements for an individual child. Parliament, funding decisions, workforce capacity and local delivery all affect what becomes real.

Published on 23 February 2026 alongside a formal consultation, the White Paper proposed replacing the current broad distinction between SEN Support and EHCPs with a different support model. The consultation closed on 18 May 2026; its documents remain useful as a record, but the response window is no longer open.

The Current System vs What Was Proposed

To understand what's changing, it helps to be clear about what currently exists for SEND support in England:

• SEN Support — Schools are expected to identify and support children with SEND from their own budgets. In practice, the quality of SEN Support varies between schools, and it does not carry the same legal enforceability as an EHCP.
• EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) — A statutory plan. The local authority must secure the special educational provision specified in Section F. An appeal can challenge specified decisions and plan contents, while failure to deliver an existing plan generally requires a complaint or public-law enforcement route.

The problem the government is trying to solve is real: EHCP applications have risen by over 50% in recent years, partly because SEN Support has lacked the consistency and enforceability that families need. This has led many parents to pursue EHCPs as the only route to guaranteed provision — a process that is resource-intensive for families and local authorities alike.

The White Paper's answer is to make the first layer of support reliable and legally binding, so that not every family needs an EHCP just to get their child's needs met.

The Proposed Support Model

The consultation described three broad layers. They are not a replacement statutory framework unless and until the required changes are made:

Layer 1: Universal Support

The proposal described more inclusive teaching, SEND training, national standards and an Inclusion Charter. Which elements become mandatory, for whom and from what date depends on final policy and law.

Layer 2: Targeted Support (with ISPs)

This proposed layer would support children in mainstream settings and use an Individual Support Plan (ISP). The final legal status, required content, co-production duties and remedies were not created by the consultation document itself.

There is also a sub-layer here — "Targeted Plus" — for children who need external specialist input. This is where the Experts at Hand service comes in (more on this below).

Layer 3: Specialist Support (EHCPs)

The proposal described specialist support for children whose needs could not be met through the other layers, with EHCPs continuing in some form. The consultation's references to the Tribunal and standardised packages are policy proposals; current appeal rights remain those in the law now in force.

Individual Support Plans (ISPs): What Parents Need to Know

ISPs are the White Paper's most significant new proposal. Here is what we currently know:

• Legal status was proposed, not enacted. The final duty, responsible body and remedy would need to be set out in legislation.
• Co-production and review were policy intentions. The enforceable detail was not settled by the consultation.
• A digital format was proposed. Accessibility and data-governance requirements would need to be specified.
• Challenge rights remained a key question. Do not assume an ISP would carry the same tribunal route as an EHCP.
• Dates were an implementation proposal. Check the government response and enacted law for any confirmed timetable.

During consultation, organisations including IPSEA and Contact raised questions about whether an ISP would carry comparable specificity, accountability and remedies. Issues to look for in the government response include:

• Clear, specific, quantified provision (as specific as EHCP Section F)
• A right of appeal to the SEND Tribunal if the plan is inadequate
• Independent oversight — not just the school deciding if its own plan is sufficient
• Proper ring-fenced funding that follows the child

Experts at Hand: Therapists in Schools

One of the most genuinely welcome proposals in the White Paper — if it is properly funded and delivered — is the Experts at Hand service.

The White Paper associated Experts at Hand with proposed funding and more speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and educational-psychology input in or across schools. Exact workforce, local availability, eligibility, start dates and the relationship with statutory assessment depend on final implementation.

For families in Kent who have been asking "does my child need an occupational therapist?" or who have been waiting months to access occupational therapy for children in Kent or speech therapy in Kent through NHS or private routes — this is significant in principle. The current reality is:

• NHS speech therapy and OT referral routes, thresholds and waits vary across Kent services
• Private occupational therapy and speech and language therapy charges vary; obtain a current itemised quote
• Workforce shortages can affect delivery, including provision specified in an EHCP; record missed provision and obtain advice on the appropriate remedy

If implemented and adequately staffed, Experts at Hand could give schools another route to specialist input. It would not automatically remove the need for individual referral, assessment or statutory planning in every case. Local workforce, scope and access criteria remain central questions.

What Happens to Your Child's EHCP?

This is the question every family is asking, so let's be precise:

Right now: an EHCP remains in force unless the local authority lawfully amends or ceases it under the current statutory process. A consultation proposal does not itself alter the plan, placement or appeal rights.

For any future transition: rely on enacted legislation, regulations and official guidance available at the time. Age-, year-group- and phase-transfer guarantees described during consultation should not be treated as current law before that framework exists.

For a special-school placement: check the current EHCP, placement duties and any later transition rules. The White Paper's intended protections are not a substitute for the legal documents that would implement them.

The First-tier Tribunal (SEND) continues to hear the appeals within its current jurisdiction. Any future role in relation to an ISP would have to be defined in the final legal framework.

What the White Paper Proposed for Schools

The White Paper described possible future expectations. These are not all current statutory duties merely because they appeared in the policy paper:

• More SEND training and inclusion leadership were proposed; check which requirements have actually been introduced.
• ISPs for targeted support were proposed for a later phase; their legal duties and dates require a final framework.
• Inclusion Bases were proposed within mainstream schools; local availability and admissions cannot be assumed.
• Experts at Hand was proposed for specialist input; participation, eligibility and capacity depend on rollout.
• National inclusion standards were proposed; use current statutory and school duties until any new standards take effect.

If these measures are implemented, expectations may change. For an individual case today, distinguish clearly between existing duties, non-statutory policy and future proposals.

The Kent Context: Why This Matters Locally

Kent is one of the most financially pressured local authorities for SEND in England, which makes these reforms particularly relevant for local families.

As of early 2026, Kent County Council had over 21,000 children with EHCPs — around 20% higher than comparable large authorities. The high needs block (the funding pot that covers specialist SEND provision) was more than £50 million overspent in 2024. School transport for EHCP holders alone costs Kent nearly £100 million per year.

These figures are relevant context because they help explain the pressures local authorities face when implementing SEND policy. As with any large-scale reform, it's important for families to stay informed, understand how changes may be applied locally, and ensure that their child's individual needs remain the priority.

The good news: Kent has an active parent carer forum, IASK (Information, Advice and Support Kent) provides free impartial advice, and the SEND Tribunal remains your right regardless of what KCC decides.

The formal consultation window has closed. Kent families can now compare the government response and any local plan with what was proposed, while continuing to use current routes for assessment, support and challenge.

The Implementation Timeline

Date	What Happens
18 May 2026	Government consultation closed.
2026–2027	Government response and any draft legislation: check the official publication for actual dates and status.
September 2027	Indicative proposal only; verify any confirmed rollout, local coverage and funding.
September 2029	Indicative proposal only; an ISP duty would require the necessary legal framework.
From 2030	Proposed transition period; rely on enacted legislation and official guidance, not this indicative date.
2035	Long-term policy ambition described in reform material, not a current individual entitlement.

What Your Child's SEND Support Looks Like Right Now — Today

None of the above changes anything today. Here is what you should be doing in 2026, regardless of the White Paper:

1. If your child needs an EHCP, apply now. The current legal framework is unchanged. Waiting to see how reforms play out helps no one. Use SENDPath's step-by-step EHCP application guide and our free request letter template.
2. If your child has an EHCP, check Section F. The local authority has the statutory duty to secure specified special educational provision. If it is not being delivered, obtain individual advice on the appropriate complaint or enforcement route.
3. If your child may need OT or speech and language therapy, use current routes. Ask the responsible NHS service, GP, school or local authority which referral route applies. Where therapy educates or trains, seek advice about whether it should be specified in Section F.
4. Check the post-consultation status. The response window closed on 18 May 2026. Use the official Department for Education publication for the government response and any later legislation or guidance.
5. Join your local parent carer forum. In Kent, connect with IASK and local parent groups. These networks are how families influence the local implementation of national policy.
6. If a school transition is approaching, plan under the current framework. Keep needs, provision and outcomes under review and use the statutory phase-transfer timetable that applies at the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need an occupational therapist?

If your child struggles with fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-care tasks, or handwriting to the point where it affects their daily life or learning, an OT assessment could be helpful. Signs that a referral might be worth pursuing include: difficulty dressing, unusual sensitivity to textures or sounds, coordination difficulties, or struggling to participate in school activities in ways that aren't explained by other factors. Speak to your GP, paediatrician, or school SENCO as a starting point. This is not clinical advice — your child's medical team is the right source of guidance for your specific situation.

Where can I find occupational therapy for children in Kent?

NHS occupational-therapy referral routes and waits vary by service and need; check the responsible provider's current criteria. For private occupational therapy in Kent, SENDPath's therapist directory lists providers. If your child has an EHCP, check Section F and ask the SENCO or local authority SEND team who is responsible for any specified provision.

Where can I find speech therapy for children in Kent?

NHS speech and language therapy referral routes vary by service and age, so check the current Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust criteria or ask the referrer. For private speech therapy in Kent, the SENDPath directory lists providers but does not endorse them. Where speech and language therapy educates or trains, seek advice about specifying and quantifying it in Section F of an EHCP.

What does the SEND Tribunal do — and will it still exist?

The First-tier Tribunal (SEND) hears appeals about specified local-authority decisions, including assessment, issue, contents and placement. Failure to deliver existing provision generally uses a different complaint or public-law enforcement route, so obtain advice on the remedy that fits the problem. Our Kent EHCP Tribunal guide explains the appeal process.

Is it worth applying for DLA during the reform period?

The SEND consultation did not change DLA rules. Eligibility depends on the child's care and mobility needs against the benefit tests, not on whether they have an EHCP or diagnosis. See our DLA for Autistic Children guide and check current GOV.UK rules.

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Sources and Further Reading

• DfE: Every Child Achieving and Thriving — Schools White Paper 2026
• DfE Education Hub: What Parents Need to Know
• Contact: The Schools White Paper and SEND Reforms
• Disability Rights UK: Schools White Paper Analysis
• IPSEA — Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
• IASK Kent — Information, Advice and Support Kent
• Official SEND Consultation record (closed 18 May 2026)

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