What is changing? Key points from the SEND White Paper

The government's Schools white paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving outlines major proposed reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England, focusing on Individual Support Plans, national inclusion standards, and early support.

Key Proposed Changes for Parents

• Individual Support Plans (ISPs): A new legal duty for schools, nurseries, and colleges to put an ISP in place for every child with an identified SEND need.

• Current Law Unchanged: Existing laws, including Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), remain fully in force while proposals and consultations move forward.

• Timeline and Rollout: Major legislative changes are planned through the Education for All Bill, with full system transitions and new implementations expected around the 2029–2030 school year.

We expect most children will have their needs met through this offer. But for children and young people with additional needs, there will be three further levels of support:  

• Targeted Plus – More specialist support from education and health professionals, including Speech and Language Therapists and Educational Psychologists. This will be delivered in partnership with our ‘Experts at Hand Offer’. This will also be recorded through their Individual Support Plan.

• Specialist – Children with complex needs will get comprehensive, specialist support through a Specialist Provision Package and EHCP in a mainstream or specialist setting. The detail day to day support they will receive will be recorded in their Individual Support Plan.

• Targeted - Structured support such as speech and language support in small groups or help with managing sensory needs. This will be recorded in their digital Individual Support Plan, developed by schools and in partnership with parents.

But what is happening to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)?

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will stay in place for children who need more support than is routinely available in mainstream schools. However, we are making changes to make the system work better.  

We will introduce digital EHCPs which will include information such as personal care help for a child with a physical disability.  

Every child with an EHCP will also have an Individual Support Plan, which will set out the practical, day-to-day support the nursery, school or college will provide and how it will be delivered.

Parents, carers and a child’s teachers will all be involved in the plans being developed – so everyone has a say in what support they have and how it is given.

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