SEND Reforms 2026: What Every School Needs to Know

The government published its Schools White Paper, "Every Child Achieving and Thriving," on 23 February 2026 alongside a formal SEND consultation. Together, these documents set out the most significant restructuring of SEND provision in England since the Children and Families Act 2014. The reforms affect every mainstream school, special school, college, and early years setting in the country.

For teachers and SENCOs already managing growing caseloads with limited resources, the central question is straightforward: what actually changes, and when? This guide breaks down the full reform package using the government's own published documents, identifies what schools need to act on first, and separates the confirmed commitments from the proposals still under consultation.

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Why These Reforms Matter Now

The current SEND system is widely acknowledged as unsustainable. Local authority spending on high needs has risen sharply, with the deficit across England reaching several billion pounds. EHCP applications have increased by over 50% in recent years, with families waiting months or even years for assessments. The postcode lottery in provision means identical needs receive vastly different responses depending on geography.

The Prime Minister described the situation directly: "Getting the right support should never be a battle." Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called the reforms "a watershed moment for a generation of children with additional needs."

What makes these reforms different from previous SEND Green Papers and improvement plans is the scale of confirmed funding and the specificity of the implementation timeline. This is not a consultation document alone. The White Paper contains firm spending commitments, and several changes begin immediately.

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The Three Layers of Support

The current system operates largely as a binary: children either have an EHCP with legally enforceable provision, or they rely on whatever their school can offer from its own budget. The reforms replace this with three flexible layers that children can move between as their needs change.

Targeted Support

This is the first layer above the universal offer. It includes small group interventions delivered by school staff, reasonable adjustments to the classroom environment, and an Individual Support Plan recording needs, support, and intended outcomes.

In practice, a Year 4 pupil struggling with reading comprehension might receive daily guided reading sessions in a group of four, with their ISP noting the specific phonics gaps being addressed and the progress markers the school is tracking. The support they receive will be written into law.

Targeted Plus

This layer brings external expertise into the mainstream setting. The government's new Experts at Hand service will deploy speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, and occupational therapists directly into schools. Children at this level may also access an Inclusion Base, a dedicated space within the mainstream school offering a calmer environment for interventions and small group sessions.

Consider a Year 8 student with autism who manages most lessons well but finds unstructured time and transitions overwhelming. Under the current system, the school might request an EHCP to access specialist input. Under the reforms, the Experts at Hand service provides that input directly, potentially including sessions in the school's Inclusion Base during break times, without requiring a statutory assessment.

Short-term placements at alternative provision or special schools are also available at this level to help a child re-engage with their mainstream setting.

Specialist Support

For children with the most complex needs, where mainstream settings cannot routinely meet their requirements, the specialist layer provides support through new Specialist Provision Packages. These packages are being developed by an independent panel of education, health, and care experts in consultation with children and families.

SPPs will set out exactly what a child is entitled to, covering education, health, and care. They will be evidence-based, nationally standardised, and available across the country. The government is explicit that this is designed to end the postcode lottery that currently affects EHCP provision.

A child assessed as needing a Specialist Provision Package will receive an EHCP based on that package, giving them a legal entitlement to the support it specifies.

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Individual Support Plans: What Schools Must Do

Every child with identified SEND will have a digital Individual Support Plan from September 2029. This is not optional. Schools, including maintained nurseries, school-based nurseries, and colleges, will have a legal duty to create and maintain ISPs.

The ISP records three things: the child's needs, the support they are receiving, and what that support should help them achieve. It is developed with parents and carers and updated regularly.

For schools already using provision mapping or similar tracking systems, ISPs formalise what good SENCOs already do. The difference is legal backing. If a parent is unhappy with the support described in an ISP, they will have access to a strengthened complaints process, including a panel with an independent SEND expert.

Teachers writing ISPs should focus on specificity. Rather than recording "additional support in literacy," an effective ISP might state: "Three 20-minute sessions per week using Precision Teaching for high-frequency word recognition, reviewed half-termly against a target of 30 words read correctly per minute."

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What Happens to EHCPs

EHCPs are retained. The government has been unequivocal on this point. For children with the most complex needs, an EHCP will continue to provide statutory protection and a legal entitlement to provision.

What changes is how EHCPs are structured. New EHCPs will be based on the Specialist Provision Packages, making them digitally standardised across the country. The current variation in EHCP quality and content, where one local authority might specify detailed provision and another offers vague statements, should diminish significantly.

The transition timeline for existing EHCPs is carefully phased. No child transitions to the new system before the 2030 school year. The first cohorts to be assessed under the new framework will be those at the end of primary, secondary, and post-16 in school year 2029/30. They will be assessed from September 2029 and move to the new system in September 2030.

Children attending special schools can stay for the duration of their education. The government explicitly states that no child will be forced into a mainstream setting.

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Inclusion Bases: A New Feature in Every Secondary School

Every secondary school will have an Inclusion Base, and the same number of primary schools will be equipped with them. An Inclusion Base is a dedicated space within the mainstream school designed for children with SEND who need targeted interventions, a calmer environment for regulation, or time to access specialist support.

This is not a withdrawal unit in the traditional sense. The government describes it as a space where children can "receive targeted interventions and support or spend time to help them regulate and access their education." The emphasis is on the child remaining part of their mainstream school community while accessing the specific support they need.

For teachers, Inclusion Bases mean that colleagues running interventions will have a purpose-built space rather than making do with a corridor table or a shared office. For SENCOs, it means a physical hub for coordinating the layered support model.

The capital investment for building and equipping Inclusion Bases comes from the 3.7 billion pound fund that also covers 60,000 new specialist places across the country.

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Experts at Hand: Specialist Professionals in Mainstream Schools

The Experts at Hand service represents the single largest new spending commitment in the reforms, at 1.8 billion pounds over three years. It brings educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists directly into mainstream schools, early years settings, and colleges.

Currently, accessing these professionals typically requires either an EHCP or a referral through an oversubscribed local authority service with waiting lists of months. Under the new model, every secondary school will receive an estimated 160 or more days of specialist time per year. Primary schools and early years settings will also receive allocations.

For a classroom teacher, this changes the dynamic of supporting students with additional needs. Rather than writing a referral and waiting, a teacher could consult directly with the speech and language therapist based in the school that week. The therapist might observe a lesson, suggest specific strategies, and model an approach that the teacher then continues independently.

This model is closer to what the evidence base supports. Research on inclusive education consistently shows that embedding specialist knowledge within mainstream settings produces better outcomes than extracting children for specialist input delivered in isolation (Norwich, 2014; Florian and Black-Hawkins, 2011).

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The Funding Breakdown

The reforms are backed by specific funding commitments. These are not indicative figures or subject to future spending reviews. They are confirmed allocations.

The Inclusive Mainstream Fund provides 1.6 billion pounds over three years directly to early years settings, schools, and colleges to support children with special educational needs and disabilities and embed inclusive practices.

Experts at Hand receives 1.8 billion pounds over three years to bring specialist professionals into mainstream settings without requiring a statutory assessment.

Local authority transformation funding totals 200 million pounds to help councils reform their SEND services and deliver high-quality, inclusive provision.

National SEND training investment stands at over 200 million pounds so that all school staff feel more confident supporting children with additional needs.

Capital investment reaches 3.7 billion pounds for 60,000 new specialist places, including Inclusion Bases, and accessible buildings across schools and colleges.

Best Start Family Hubs receive over 200 million pounds for early identification of SEND through trained practitioners in every community hub.

Additionally, high needs funding increases to 3.5 billion pounds in 2028-29, and over 40 million pounds is allocated to boost the number of educational psychologists and speech and language therapists nationally.

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The Implementation Timeline

The reforms are phased across three periods. Schools do not need to implement everything at once, but they should understand what is coming and when.

Phase 1: Investment and System Building (2026 to 2028)

This phase is already underway. The 3.7 billion capital investment begins flowing for building Inclusion Bases and new specialist places. The national SEND training programme launches for all school staff. Best Start Family Hubs roll out nationally with trained SEND practitioners. Draft Specialist Provision Packages are published in Autumn 2026 for consultation.

Schools should use this period to audit their current SEND provision, identify staff training needs, and begin planning physical spaces for Inclusion Bases where applicable.

Phase 2: Improved Support and Legislation (2028 to 2029)

Final Specialist Provision Packages are published in 2027/28 with a new needs assessment process designed alongside families. The Experts at Hand service reaches full capacity across all areas. Legislation is expected to be enacted by September 2029.

Schools should focus on developing their ISP processes and building relationships with the specialist professionals being deployed through Experts at Hand.

Phase 3: New Assessments and Full Transition (2029/30 Onwards)

New needs assessments begin for the first time from September 2029. For children with existing EHCPs, transition to the new system begins from 2030. Transitions only occur when a child naturally moves between phases, from primary to secondary or secondary to post-16.

By this stage, every setting should have a fully operational ISP system, an established relationship with Experts at Hand professionals, and a functioning Inclusion Base.

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Special Schools and Alternative Provision

Special schools are not being diminished by these reforms. The government describes them as "vital" and commits to increasing places through the capital programme. What changes is their role in the wider system. Special schools will act as outreach hubs, sharing their expertise with local mainstream settings.

Alternative provision is restructured into three tiers: outreach support where AP staff work within mainstream schools, time-limited placements to help children re-engage, and longer-term placements for those who need them. Block funding replaces individual top-ups, giving AP settings more financial stability and planning capacity.

Independent special schools will face new regulations on admissions, financial transparency, and value for money. Price restrictions will apply from Phase 3 of the reforms.

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Early Years: Earlier Identification

For the youngest children, the reforms invest 47 million pounds in additional early years inclusion funding for 2026-27. A fast-track process for Specialist Provision Packages and EHCPs will be available for children under five with complex needs.

Best Start Family Hubs will include trained SEND practitioners in every community, providing open access to early support. The progress check for two-year-olds becomes a key identification tool, with early years staff trained to spot developmental differences earlier.

Teachers in Reception and Key Stage 1 benefit directly from this. Children arriving at school with needs already identified and documented through Family Hub contact will have a head start on receiving appropriate support, rather than the current pattern where identification often begins only after school entry.

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Post-16: Closing the NEET Gap

Young people with SEND are 80% more likely to be not in education, employment, or training. The reforms address this through several targeted measures.

Mental Health Support Teams will be available in all colleges by 2029-30. New Level 1 stepping stone qualifications provide preparation for GCSEs for students who need them. A 12-month advance transition planning process ensures that schools begin preparing SEND students for their post-16 destination a full year before they leave.

ISPs will follow students into their post-16 setting and form part of Ofsted inspections, creating accountability for how well colleges support learners with additional needs.

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Accountability and Inspection

Ofsted will inspect all settings specifically on their inclusive practice, covering the quality of targeted and targeted plus provision and how well schools support children with SEND. Schools will be legally required to publish an Inclusion Strategy showing how resources are used, subject to scrutiny from parents, Ofsted, and governors.

Where local authorities and Integrated Care Boards fail to meet expected standards, the government will intervene. The Children's Commissioner is being asked to oversee the reforms with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups.

School complaints systems are updated so that SEND complaints are heard by a panel including an independent SEND expert. The SEND tribunal remains for EHCP disputes, with improved mediation and dispute resolution to reduce lengthy legal processes.

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Funding at a Glance

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When Does My Child Transition?

This table shows when children with existing EHCPs move to the new system. No child transitions before September 2030, and only at natural phase changes.

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What Teachers Should Do Now

The reforms are phased, but preparation should begin immediately. Three practical steps will position any school to respond effectively as changes roll out.

First, audit your current SEND provision against the three-layer model. Map each child currently receiving SEND support to the layer they would occupy under the new system. This exercise reveals where your existing provision aligns with the reforms and where gaps exist.

Second, review your assessment and tracking systems. ISPs require specific, measurable recording of needs, support, and outcomes. If your current SEND records describe support in general terms, begin shifting to the precise format the reforms will require.

Third, identify your training priorities. The 200 million pound national training programme is designed for all staff, not just SENCOs. Consider which colleagues would benefit most from understanding neurodevelopmental conditions, differentiation approaches, or adaptive teaching strategies.

Next lesson, take your SEND register and sort each child into the three layers: Targeted, Targeted Plus, or Specialist. Share the framework with your department and discuss which children might benefit from the Experts at Hand model when it arrives at your school.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three layers of SEND support in the 2026 reforms?

The reforms introduce Targeted support (school-delivered interventions with an Individual Support Plan), Targeted Plus (external specialist input through Experts at Hand, access to Inclusion Bases, and possible short-term alternative placements), and Specialist support (for the most complex needs, backed by nationally standardised Specialist Provision Packages and an EHCP).

Will my child lose their EHCP under the new system?

No. EHCPs are retained and improved. Children with existing EHCPs will only transition to the new system when they reach a natural transition point, such as moving from primary to secondary school, from 2030 onwards. Children at special schools can stay for the duration of their education.

What is an Individual Support Plan?

An Individual Support Plan is a digital record that all schools will be legally required to create for every child with identified SEND. It documents the child's needs, the support they receive, and what that support should help them achieve. ISPs are developed with parents and updated regularly.

What are Specialist Provision Packages?

Specialist Provision Packages are nationally standardised descriptions of support for children with the most complex needs. They cover education, health, and care, and are developed by an independent expert panel. SPPs replace the current variation in EHCP provision with consistent, evidence-based standards available across the country. Draft packages are expected in Autumn 2026.

How much funding are schools receiving?

Schools receive support through the 1.6 billion pound Inclusive Mainstream Fund (over three years), access to 1.8 billion pounds of specialist professionals through Experts at Hand, 3.7 billion in capital for Inclusion Bases and new places, and 200 million for staff training. Total new investment exceeds four billion pounds.

When do the changes take effect?

The reforms are phased. Investment and training begin immediately in 2026. Legislation is expected by September 2029. New needs assessments begin September 2029 for children reaching transition points. The first transitions from old to new system occur in September 2030. No changes happen mid-phase for any child.

What is an Inclusion Base?

An Inclusion Base is a dedicated space within a mainstream school designed for children with SEND. It provides a calmer environment for targeted interventions, small group work, regulation support, and specialist sessions. Every secondary school will have one, along with the same number of primary schools.

How will Experts at Hand work in practice?

Experts at Hand is a new service deploying educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists directly into mainstream schools. Each secondary school receives an estimated 160 or more days of specialist time annually. Schools can access this support without requiring a statutory assessment or EHCP, removing a major barrier in the current system.