SEND Reform Tracker 2026–2029

Tracking government funding, legal changes, and local authority implementation — in plain English for families.

Reviewed regularly. Evidence-based. Independently maintained.

Scope: This tracker focuses on statutory SEND reform in England (schools, EHCPs, Local Authorities and inclusion standards).

This tracker reflects confirmed policy, sector guidance, and observed implementation across England.

Last reviewed: 6 September 2026

Current status: Major SEND reforms are being developed for future legislation and implementation. Current SEN Support, EHC needs assessment and EHCP rights remain in force.

This page tracks major SEND policy changes affecting families, schools, and support services.

If you are looking for practical support providers, visit the SEND & EHCP Support directory.

Important: Current law vs proposed reforms

SEND reform proposals are continuing to develop through government consultation, parliamentary debate, and policy planning.

At present, EHCP law, SEN Support duties, and existing legal rights remain in place unless legislation or statutory guidance changes.

This tracker separates:

  • Current law — what schools and local authorities must currently do
  • Proposed reforms — changes being discussed or consulted on
  • Not yet confirmed — areas where government policy or legislation is still unclear

Find Support UK updates this page regularly to help families follow confirmed developments without unnecessary speculation.

Need help understanding what reform means in practice?
Start with Current SEND Law vs Proposed Reform, then read Individual Support Plans Explained and SEND Rights and Appeals Explained.

Reform timeline at a glance

Timeline stages reflect current government announcements and policy discussions and may change as reforms develop.

These are the key phases we’re tracking. Some items will roll out at different speeds by area.

2026

  • Funding announcements: allocations, guidance, rollout timelines
  • Inclusive mainstream support: earlier identification, universal and targeted support in mainstream settings
  • Specialist support access: expanded access pathways for schools
  • Individual Support Plans (ISPs): clearer school-level plans shared with families

2027–2028

  • Inclusion standards: training, guidance, accountability
  • Local authority variation: Local Offer and pathway changes
  • System stabilisation: what’s live vs pilots/transition

2029+

  • Possible legislative changes: future duties, statutory guidance and EHCP-system reform
  • Long-term funding: ongoing settlement and outcomes reporting

For detailed rights and processes, see: SEND & EHCP Support

Latest update

📅 September 2026 update: Experts at Hand begins phased local delivery

Checked: 6 September 2026. There has been no confirmed change to current SEND law, SEN Support duties, EHC needs assessment routes, EHCP provision, annual reviews or appeal rights. However, Experts at Hand has now reached its expected launch month, with local areas beginning to introduce their first versions of the service.

What changed?

DfE guidance says local areas should begin delivering their first-year Experts at Hand offer from September 2026. Early local examples suggest the service will not look identical everywhere.

Some areas may offer direct parent or carer advice, while others may initially focus on specialists working alongside schools, colleges and early-years settings. Local models may involve different professionals, access routes and levels of direct family involvement.

This means Experts at Hand is best understood as a locally delivered SEND reform programme, not a single national service that every family can access in the same way immediately.

What this means for families

Families may now start hearing more about Experts at Hand through schools, local authorities, Local Offer pages or health and education partners. The practical question is not just whether Experts at Hand exists nationally, but whether it has started locally and how parents, schools and settings can access it.

Useful questions for parents include:

  • Has Experts at Hand started in our local area?
  • Which professionals are involved locally?
  • Can parents or carers ask for advice directly, or does access come through the school or setting?
  • Is support aimed at individual children, groups of pupils, whole-class approaches or staff consultation?
  • How will advice from Experts at Hand be recorded and followed up?
  • What happens if my child needs support beyond what Experts at Hand can provide?

What has not changed?

Experts at Hand does not replace current SEND Support duties, EHC needs assessments, EHCP provision, annual reviews or appeal rights.

Children do not need a diagnosis to benefit from Experts at Hand support, but availability and referral arrangements may depend on local implementation.

Parents should continue using existing SEND routes where a child needs individual support, statutory assessment, provision written into an EHCP, or a formal challenge to a decision.

Consultation deadline watch

Two important SEND reform consultations remain open until 18 September 2026: the EOTAS consultation and the proposed local SEND inclusion funding formula consultation. Families affected by education outside school, alternative provision, online education or mainstream SEND funding may still wish to respond before the deadline.

FSUK view

The important shift this month is that SEND reform is becoming more visible locally. The risk for families is confusion: a new local service may be available, but that does not mean current legal rights have changed.

Find Support UK will continue to distinguish between current legal duties, local implementation activity, consultation proposals and reforms that would require future legislation.

Official sources:

Sources related to this August update:

What changes are being discussed

Current SEND reform discussions increasingly focus on earlier intervention, stronger mainstream inclusion and more consistent support before statutory assessment may become necessary.

Government proposals include:

  • clearer expectations for the support mainstream schools should provide;
  • greater use of evidence-based interventions and targeted support;
  • Individual Support Plans for children and young people with SEND;
  • more consistent approaches to identifying needs and recording outcomes;
  • earlier access to specialist advice through initiatives such as Experts at Hand;
  • stronger accountability for how schools and local systems deliver inclusive support.

These proposals are intended to strengthen support before difficulties escalate, but they do not currently create a requirement for families to complete every stage of SEN Support before requesting an EHC needs assessment.

Evidence of the support already provided, its impact and any unmet needs can be important when an EHC needs assessment is considered. However, the existing statutory assessment process and legal test remain in force while wider reforms are developed.

What reforms could change in future

Future reform is expected to focus on stronger mainstream inclusion, earlier intervention, more consistent support planning and clearer national expectations for schools and local systems.

Government proposals and parliamentary discussions have referenced:

  • greater expectations on mainstream schools to provide structured SEND support;
  • possible use of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) alongside or before EHCP processes;
  • National Inclusion Standards and more consistent support expectations;
  • earlier intervention and better evidence gathering where additional support or statutory assessment may be needed;
  • reducing differences in SEND support between local authorities.

No legislation has yet removed EHCP rights. Current EHC assessment, appeal and tribunal rights still apply unless Parliament changes the law.

One of the major areas still being debated is whether future support plans would provide the same enforceable legal protections currently attached to EHCPs.

Families should continue following current SEND processes while monitoring confirmed reform announcements carefully.

What remains legally enforceable now

  • Schools still have SEN Support duties under the SEND Code of Practice.
  • Parents and eligible young people can still request an EHC needs assessment.
  • Local authorities still have statutory duties around EHC needs assessments, EHC plans and securing specified special educational provision.
  • SEND Tribunal appeal rights remain in place.
  • Reasonable adjustment duties under equality law still apply.
  • Support specified in an EHC plan should not be replaced by Experts at Hand or other non-statutory support offers.

Stay updated as SEND reform proposals develop.

Something went wrong. Please try again.
You’ll receive updates when SEND policy, funding, or local implementation changes.

Get SEND reform updates

Receive clear, plain-English updates when SEND policy, funding, or local implementation changes.

No spam. Only important SEND updates.

Previous SEND reform updates

August 2026 update: Mainstream inclusion moves further into implementation

Status: There has been no change to the legal framework for SEN Support, EHC needs assessments or EHCPs this month. However, the Department for Education is continuing to move SEND reform from national policy into practical implementation in mainstream schools and early-years settings.

What changed?

On 7 August 2026, the Department for Education updated its guidance for schools using the Inclusive Mainstream Fund, adding further evidence-based resources to support inclusive teaching and targeted interventions.

The wider guidance now gives schools a clearer framework for how the new funding should be used alongside their existing core funding and notional SEN budget.

Schools are expected to:

  • identify barriers to learning and participation across their pupil population;
  • strengthen adaptive teaching and accessible whole-school practice;
  • provide early and targeted support where universal provision is not enough;
  • use evidence from staff, families, SEND data and external professionals when deciding priorities;
  • use evidence-informed interventions rather than relying only on diagnosis or statutory assessment;
  • publish an inclusion strategy by 31 December 2026 explaining how they are improving inclusion and using the funding.

The DfE also expects these strategies to become part of school accountability. Ofsted will be able to consider whether inclusion strategies are embedded in practice and whether staff are equipped to deliver them.

What does this mean for families?

For families, this creates a more visible way to understand how a school is approaching SEND and inclusion.

Parents may increasingly be able to ask schools:

  • What barriers to learning has the school identified for pupils with needs like my child’s?
  • What support is included within the school’s universal SEND and inclusion offer?
  • What targeted support is available if universal provision is not enough?
  • How is the Inclusive Mainstream Fund being used?
  • How have families been involved in identifying priorities?
  • When will the school’s inclusion strategy be published?
  • How will the school measure whether its inclusion measures are working?

The latest guidance also reinforces an important principle: a child does not need to wait for a formal diagnosis, statutory assessment or EHCP before a school can provide appropriate universal or targeted SEND support.

Early-years inclusion funding is also reaching local areas

There has also been a practical funding development for younger children.

Final local-authority allocations from the £47 million Inclusive Early Years Fund were published on 22 July 2026, with payments made to local authorities on 31 July.

The funding is intended to help early-years providers strengthen inclusive practice and provide earlier support for children with SEND.

Families with children in nurseries and other early-years settings may increasingly want to ask what inclusive support is available locally and how additional SEND funding is being used.

Later August SEND implementation checks

Later in August, DfE also updated its central SEND reform information for parents and carers. The page now more clearly signposts three connected reform areas: Experts at Hand, EOTAS reform and the proposed local SEND inclusion funding formula.

This does not create a new legal route or replace current SEND processes. However, it reinforces an important point for families: SEND reform is developing through several separate strands, including mainstream inclusion funding, specialist advice through Experts at Hand, EOTAS proposals and future national standards.

There was also a separate SEND process development in August. From 17 August 2026, the SEND Tribunal began using a One-Touch Case Management Pilot for new appeals that only concern Section I of an EHC plan, which is the school or other placement named in the plan. Families affected by this pilot may not receive a provisional hearing date in the usual way when the appeal is registered.

This is a procedural pilot, not a removal of appeal rights. Parents involved in a placement-only appeal should continue preparing evidence early and seek specialist advice where needed.

DfE also updated high-needs funding guidance in August, including operational information for local authorities, schools and colleges. These updates are mainly about funding administration and place planning, rather than a change to families’ SEND Support or EHCP rights.

What has not changed?

These developments are part of preparations for wider SEND reform.

They do not replace existing legal rights or processes.

Families can still:

  • ask a school to provide SEN Support where a child has special educational needs;
  • request an EHC needs assessment where they believe one may be necessary;
  • expect provision written into an existing EHCP to continue to be delivered;
  • use existing mediation, complaint and appeal routes where appropriate.

A stronger mainstream inclusion offer does not mean that a child must complete every possible intervention before an EHC needs assessment can be requested.

Some administrative and Tribunal case-management processes may change during pilots or implementation, but this does not remove the underlying right to request assessment, challenge decisions or rely on provision specified in an EHCP.

FSUK view

The significant development this month is not a new EHCP law or a change to statutory rights. It is the increasing amount of practical detail around how mainstream inclusion is expected to work.

Funding is now being distributed, schools are being given clearer expectations, and inclusion strategies will make some of this work more visible to families.

Find Support UK will continue to distinguish between current legal duties, implementation activity already happening, and reforms that remain proposed or subject to further legislation.

📅 Update: July 2026

Checked: 31 July 2026. The government has published its formal response to the Education Committee’s Solving the SEND Crisis report. Local SEND reform planning has also moved further into implementation, with local authorities and Integrated Care Boards developing local reform plans and DfE updating funding and implementation guidance.

During July, DfE opened consultations covering early years funding, Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) and a proposed local SEND inclusion formula that could allow participating local authorities to provide more SEND funding to mainstream schools upfront. Separate guidance has also been published on inclusion bases in mainstream schools and on new cost-recoupment rules for looked-after children with an EHC plan or attending a special school.

Read our Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) Explained guide for the current legal framework and reform proposals. Our new Inclusion Bases in Mainstream Schools guide explains how these bases may support children receiving SEN Support or provision through an EHCP.

No broad change has been made to families’ current SEND rights. SEN Support duties, EHC needs assessment routes, EHCP duties, annual reviews, EOTAS arrangements and appeal rights continue to apply. The consultations contain proposals rather than confirmed changes to law. A narrower regulatory change concerning how education costs are recovered between local authorities will apply from 1 September 2026, but this does not replace or reduce existing EHCP duties.

What changed?

  • DfE published national guidance on inclusion bases in mainstream schools. Inclusion bases are additional provision within mainstream settings and may support children receiving SEN Support or provision through an EHCP.
  • The guidance says inclusion bases should be led by a qualified teacher, provide access to an adapted, broad and ambitious curriculum, support appropriate participation in mainstream school life and never be used as a behaviour sanction.
  • The inclusion-bases guidance is non-statutory. It does not replace schools’ existing SEND duties or provision specified in Section F of an EHCP.
  • The Education Committee published the government’s formal response to its Solving the SEND Crisis report on 17 June 2026.
  • The government response provides further detail on accountability, local SEND reform plans, health involvement and the planned direction of SEND reform.
  • Local authorities and Integrated Care Boards have been expected to develop local SEND reform plans as national implementation planning progresses.
  • On 1 July 2026, DfE republished confirmed Inclusive Mainstream Fund allocations and removed the earlier funding calculator. Conditions of grant for schools and 16 to 19 providers have also been published.
  • On 6 July 2026, DfE opened a consultation on changes to the funding system for early years entitlements, including how SEND funding is allocated to early years settings, the data used in the early years national funding formula and local authority funding rules.
  • The early years funding consultation closes on 14 September 2026. Most proposed changes would take effect in the 2028 to 2029 financial year, with some transitional arrangements proposed for 2027 to 2028.
  • On 10 July 2026, DfE opened a consultation on Education Otherwise Than At School, commonly known as EOTAS. Parent and carer information, British Sign Language material and details of how to request a Braille version were added on 14 July.
  • The EOTAS consultation considers how support, responsibilities, oversight and quality assurance could be improved for children and young people receiving special educational provision outside school or further education.
  • It also covers children receiving alternative provision because of health needs and the use of accredited online education providers. The consultation closes on 18 September 2026.
  • On 10 July 2026, DfE also opened a consultation on a proposed local SEND inclusion formula. This would allow local authorities to test arrangements for giving mainstream schools more SEND funding upfront during the 2027 to 2028 financial year.
  • No decision has yet been made to introduce the proposed local SEND inclusion formula more widely. This consultation also closes on 18 September 2026.
  • The £6,000 figure referred to in mainstream SEND funding arrangements is not a legal threshold that must be reached before an EHC needs assessment can be requested. It concerns how additional SEN support is commonly funded within the current school funding system.
  • DfE has published guidance on revised cost-recoupment regulations for looked-after children who have an EHC plan or attend a special school and receive education funded by another local authority.
  • From 1 September 2026, the local authority responsible for looking after the child must meet specified education costs where the authorities have not agreed an amount within six months. This can include home-to-school transport costs.
  • Experts at Hand remains a key implementation route for earlier specialist advice in mainstream settings, but it does not replace SEN Support, EHC needs assessments or provision specified in an EHCP.

What this means for families

The early years funding proposals are subject to consultation and do not change current funding arrangements immediately. Parents of children in early years settings can continue to ask providers and local authorities what SEND support, inclusion funding and additional help are currently available.

The inclusion-bases guidance may lead to more schools and local authorities using this term for specialist or additional provision within mainstream settings. Parents should ask what support the particular base provides, how much time their child will spend there, how access to mainstream lessons will be maintained and how any provision in an EHCP will be delivered.

The EOTAS consultation does not immediately change the current legal framework. Families whose child currently receives EOTAS, education because of health needs or other provision outside school should continue to rely on the existing arrangements and any provision specified in an EHCP unless they are formally changed through the appropriate legal process.

The proposed local SEND inclusion formula is intended to explore whether providing more funding to mainstream schools upfront could help support be put in place earlier and more flexibly. It does not remove existing EHCPs, change local authorities’ duty to secure provision specified in an EHCP or remove schools’ duty to use their best endeavours to support pupils with SEN.

Schools do not have to demonstrate that they have spent exactly £6,000 before a parent, school or young person can request an EHC needs assessment. The legal question remains whether it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made through an EHCP.

The revised recoupment rules primarily determine which local authority pays education costs for certain looked-after children placed across council boundaries. They should not be interpreted as delaying education, an EHC needs assessment or provision already required through an EHCP.

More generally, families should treat the wider reform updates as part of the government’s planned direction rather than as a replacement for existing legal routes. Parents can still ask schools about SEN Support, request an EHC needs assessment where appropriate, use annual reviews, make complaints and appeal to the SEND Tribunal where legal routes apply.

What has not changed?

  • Current SEN Support duties and the graduated approach remain in place.
  • Parents, young people, schools and other eligible parties can still request an EHC needs assessment.
  • Local authorities must continue to secure the special educational provision specified in an EHCP.
  • Existing EHCPs are not removed or amended by these consultations.
  • Current annual review, complaint and SEND Tribunal appeal routes continue to apply.
  • Current EOTAS arrangements and duties remain in force while the consultation is considered.
  • Mainstream schools must continue to use their best endeavours to secure appropriate special educational provision for pupils with SEN.
  • Experts at Hand does not create a replacement for SEN Support, EHC needs assessments or EHCP provision.
  • Access to an inclusion base does not prevent an EHC needs assessment from being requested where one may be necessary.
  • An inclusion base cannot replace special educational provision specified in Section F of an EHCP.
  • There is no legal requirement for a school to spend exactly £6,000 before an EHC needs assessment can be requested.

Regional implementation watch

Local areas are beginning to show how they may prepare for reform through Local Offer updates, SEND and inclusion strategies, local reform plans, mainstream inclusion work, early years funding arrangements and Experts at Hand planning.

Local authorities may also consider applying to test the proposed upfront SEND funding arrangements for mainstream schools. Any local expression of interest or pilot activity should be treated as implementation testing rather than as a change to national SEND law.

FSUK will continue to distinguish between local implementation activity, national guidance and funding changes, consultation proposals and confirmed changes to SEND law.

Official sources:

📅 Update: June 2026

On 5 June 2026, the Department for Education updated its Experts at Hand and Local Authority SEND Transformation Fund guidance. The update added final local authority allocations, grant conditions and updated funding information for 2026 to 2027.

Implementation watch: sector commentary increasingly suggests that SEND reform is already influencing local planning, school accountability discussions and funding decisions, even though current SEND law remains unchanged.

What changed

  • DfE published guidance on developing and delivering the Experts at Hand offer in year 1.
  • Experts at Hand is intended to help mainstream education settings access specialist education and health advice earlier, including support from speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and specialist teachers.
  • DfE guidance says local areas should begin introducing their Experts at Hand offer from September 2026, with a phased approach during the first year.
  • DfE published final 2026 to 2027 local authority allocations and grant conditions for the Experts at Hand and Local Authority SEND Transformation Fund.
  • The guidance states that Experts at Hand should be additional to existing statutory support and should not replace support provided through an EHCP.
  • The Inclusive Mainstream Fund allocations for schools and 16 to 19 providers have also been published for 2026 to 2027.

What this means for families

  • Families may begin to hear more about local Experts at Hand services from schools, local authorities and health partners during 2026.
  • Experts at Hand may support earlier specialist input in mainstream settings, but it does not remove existing EHCP rights, statutory assessment routes or local authority duties.
  • If your child already has an EHCP, any support specified in that plan should continue to be delivered. Experts at Hand should not be used as a replacement for statutory provision.
  • Local areas may develop their offers at different speeds, so families may notice variation depending on where they live.
  • Parents may want to ask schools what specialist advice is available locally, how it links to SEN Support, and whether it affects any existing therapy input or EHCP provision.
  • Families should keep clear written records of school support, SENCO meetings, review dates, communication and any unmet need.

Experts at Hand and EHCP provision

DfE guidance is clear that Experts at Hand is designed to strengthen support in mainstream settings. It should help education settings access specialist advice earlier and build capacity around common areas of need, including speech, language and communication, emotional regulation, attention and sensory responses.

However, Experts at Hand should not replace statutory SEND provision. Where a child has one-to-one support or specialist provision specified in an EHCP, that provision remains outside the scope of Experts at Hand and should continue to be delivered through the EHCP.

How FSUK is responding

  • We have published a dedicated guide explaining what Experts at Hand means for families.
  • We are updating SEND and EHCP guidance to explain how Experts at Hand sits alongside SEN Support, Individual Support Plans, therapy input and EHCP provision.
  • We are strengthening wording that explains the difference between early specialist advice and legally enforceable EHCP support.
  • We will monitor local authority implementation as areas begin developing their Experts at Hand offers from September 2026.
  • We will keep Experts at Hand within the wider SEND reform and school-support guidance layer rather than creating a separate provider category too early.

Find support related to this update: SEND & EHCP Support · Therapy & Specialist Support · Autism Support · Private ADHD & Autism Assessments

Sources related to this update:

📌 Update: May 2026

Status: SEND reform is now more clearly linked to future legislation through the proposed Education for All Bill, following the King’s Speech and Schools White Paper. Current EHCP rights and SEND duties remain in force.

What changed?

  • The Government has confirmed its intention to legislate on SEND reforms through the Education for All Bill.
  • The DfE SEND reform consultation remains open during May 2026 and is due to close on 18 May 2026.
  • Reform messaging continues to focus on earlier support, stronger mainstream inclusion, and more consistent support across schools, particularly within SEND & EHCP Support and school-based SEN provision.
  • National inclusion standards, staff training, adaptive teaching, and support before EHCP escalation remain central themes across SEND support, Autism Support, and mainstream school inclusion policy.
  • Parliamentary and sector discussions continue to focus on practical delivery, professional training, SEND workforce readiness, tribunal rights, accountability, and whether future reforms protect enforceable support.
  • A UK Parliament petition is calling for additional autism-specific training to be made mandatory for prospective and practising NHS speech therapists.

What this means for families

  • Nothing has changed immediately in law or statutory SEND processes.
  • EHCP rights have not been removed.
  • Parents can still request an EHCP assessment through existing SEND & EHCP Support routes.
  • SEND Tribunal appeal rights remain in place.
  • Schools and local authorities must still follow current SEND law and statutory guidance.
  • Families should continue to use existing SEN Support, EHCP and SEND Tribunal routes where needed, including existing EHCP support and advocacy services.
  • Families choosing support for autistic children may want to ask providers about experience with autistic communication needs, AAC, language processing differences, speech demand, and neurodiversity-informed practice when reviewing Autism Support, Speech & Language Therapy, and Therapy & Specialist Support services.

Professional training and autism-specific communication support

Professional training continues to emerge as a central implementation issue in SEND reform, particularly across SEND & EHCP Support, Autism Support, and Therapy & Specialist Support.

Current parliamentary and sector discussion includes staff training, adaptive teaching, specialist support, workforce readiness, and whether schools can realistically deliver earlier support within mainstream settings.

A current UK Parliament petition is calling for additional autism-specific training to be made mandatory for prospective and practising NHS speech therapists.

For families, this raises a practical question: when choosing support for autistic children, especially speech, behavioural, educational or social communication support, families may want to ask what providers know about autistic communication needs, AAC, language processing differences and neurodiversity-informed practice.

Why this matters for families

The direction of reform suggests schools may be expected to provide more structured support earlier, before some children need an EHCP. However, current EHCP law and appeal rights continue to apply unless Parliament changes the law.

This means many families may continue relying on existing SEND support services, EHCP advocacy, and specialist therapy and assessment services while reforms continue through consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.

How FSUK is responding

  • We are continuing to separate current legal duties from proposed reforms.
  • We will continue to monitor official SEND reform consultation developments and parliamentary scrutiny.
  • We are expanding guidance across SEND & EHCP Support, school duties, SEN Support, EHCP requests, rights, appeals, and future Individual Support Plan proposals.
  • We will update existing information on SEND, EHCP and school support where confirmed guidance changes.
  • We will add provider-facing questions about experience supporting autistic communication needs and speech and language therapy guidance.
  • We will update this tracker when legislation, statutory guidance, or confirmed implementation timelines change.

Find support related to this update: Private ADHD & Autism Assessments · Autism Support · SEND & EHCP Support · Therapy & Specialist Support

Find support related to this update: Private ADHD & Autism Assessments · Autism Support · SEND & EHCP Support · Therapy & Specialist Support

📅 Update: April 2026

What changed

  • Further rollout of inclusion-focused SEND funding and expectations for schools to deliver support without EHCPs
  • Increasing use of structured support planning aligned to future Individual Support Plans (ISPs)
  • Variation between local authorities continues in thresholds, support, and assessment timelines — particularly for families navigating SEND & EHCP Support
  • Evidence requirements and expectations can also vary in practice. For a clearer overview of what information may be relevant, see: What Evidence Is Needed for an EHCP Request
  • Greater focus on outcomes — schools and local authorities increasingly require evidence showing limited progress, not just support provided
  • Greater emphasis on recording SEN Support clearly through the assess–plan–do–review cycle, including what support has been provided, its impact and any unmet needs.

What this means for families

  • For a practical breakdown of school responsibilities before an EHCP, see: What Schools Must Do Before an EHCP Request
  • Ask how your child’s school is using SEND funding to support needs in the classroom
  • Check that support plans include specific interventions, outcomes, and review timelines
  • Expect differences between areas, and base decisions on national legal rights rather than local policy alone
  • Be prepared to show not just what support has been provided, but how your child has responded to it over time
  • Keep SEN Support reviews and evidence well documented, as this can help show what support has been tried, its impact and whether needs remain unmet.
  • Check that school reports, external assessments, and your own observations are aligned and consistent

How FSUK is responding

  • Strengthening guidance on SEND funding and school responsibilities
  • Expanding “What families should do now” with practical school-based questions
  • Improving links to Private Assessments and Therapy to support evidence building
  • We have also added practical guidance to help families understand what evidence may be needed when exploring an EHCP request. What Evidence Is Needed for an EHCP Request
  • Expanding guidance on how EHCP decisions are made in practice, including evidence, outcomes, and common reasons for delay or refusal

Find support related to this update: Private ADHD & Autism Assessments · Autism Support · SEND & EHCP Support · Therapy & Specialist Support

📅 Update: March 2026

What changed

  • Schools and local authorities are increasingly using structured SEND support plans (early versions of Individual Support Plans – ISPs)
  • Greater emphasis on structured evidence of needs, support provided, progress and outcomes when considering whether additional or statutory support may be required.
  • Clearer expectations for mainstream schools to strengthen SEN Support and provide earlier, more consistent help

What this means for families

  • Ask your school for a written support plan with clear outcomes and review dates
  • Ensure progress and unmet needs are being recorded — this evidence can help support an EHC needs assessment request.
  • For a clearer overview of the records, reports, and school-based evidence that may support an EHCP request, see: What Evidence Is Needed for an EHCP Request
  • Families do not need to wait until every possible intervention has been tried before requesting an EHC needs assessment where they believe one may be necessary.

How FSUK is responding

  • Updated SEND & EHCP guide to reflect evidence-based decision making
  • Added guidance on “What schools must do before an EHCP Request”
  • Improved internal links between School Support and EHCP guidance

Find support related to this update: Private ADHD & Autism Assessments · Autism Support · SEND & EHCP Support · Therapy & Specialist Support

📅 Update: February 2026

What changed

  • Government reform proposals placed greater emphasis on more structured school-level SEND support planning, including future Individual Support Plans (ISPs).
  • Further detail emerged around inclusive mainstream support and funding.
  • Policy discussions increasingly focused on earlier identification, clearer support planning and stronger mainstream inclusion.

What this means for families

  • Continue asking schools to record needs, support, outcomes and review dates clearly.
  • Keep copies of relevant school records, professional reports and review notes.
  • Remember that proposed Individual Support Plans have not replaced SEN Support or EHCPs under the current system.

How FSUK is responding

  • Updated SEND & EHCP guidance to explain proposed Individual Support Plans.
  • Added guidance comparing SEN Support, proposed ISPs and EHCPs.
  • Updated relevant Support Areas and internal links as reform terminology develops.

Find support related to this update: Private ADHD & Autism Assessments · Autism Support · SEND & EHCP Support · Therapy & Specialist Support

Key reform themes being monitored

  • EHCP and tribunal rights
  • School duties before EHCP escalation
  • Individual Support Plan (ISP) proposals
  • National inclusion standards
  • Mainstream inclusion expectations
  • Adaptive teaching and staff training
  • SEND funding and workforce pressures
  • Regional implementation differences
  • Experts at Hand implementation, local authority delivery plans and specialist support access in mainstream settings

Regional implementation watch

SEND reform is being implemented at different speeds across England. Some local authorities have published detailed reform plans or funding announcements, while others are still developing their approach.

This section highlights areas where there is clearer public evidence of implementation activity. It is not a ranking of SEND service quality.

South West

Current status: Delivery and funding activity

  • Devon has announced funding to begin rolling out its local Experts at Hand approach from autumn 2026.
  • Bristol is linking SEND reform with earlier support, mainstream inclusion, specialist advice and longer-term commissioning changes.
  • Somerset has developed reform planning linked to Experts at Hand and wider SEND transformation activity.

What to watch: local delivery of specialist advice into mainstream settings and how reform funding is translated into practical support.

Yorkshire and the Humber

Current status: Reform plans and Local Offer development

  • East Riding has published information on its SEND reform plan and incorporated Experts at Hand into its longer-term approach.
  • York has published information about local reform planning and governance.
  • Leeds has documented implementation and partnership planning activity.

What to watch: how published reform plans translate into changes families can actually access through schools and Local Offers.

Midlands

Current status: Governance, commissioning and specialist access

  • Warwickshire has approved reform activity including earlier access to speech and language therapy, educational psychology and occupational therapy advice.
  • Leicestershire has published detailed system-development work covering areas such as co-production, leadership, data, inclusion quality and partnership working.
  • North Northamptonshire is progressing SEND service recommissioning and wider service redesign.

What to watch: whether new specialist-access models reduce delays and strengthen support before statutory escalation is required.

South East and East of England

Current status: Mixed but developing implementation

  • Surrey is developing enhanced specialist-outreach arrangements with schools and settings.
  • Hertfordshire has introduced a new SEND strategy covering education, health and social care.
  • Wokingham has published information about local reform planning and partnership approval.
  • Norfolk has developed a multi-year SEND reform plan.

What to watch: the consistency of implementation across authorities and how quickly published strategies result in practical changes for families.

Important context

Local implementation activity does not change the current legal framework.

Local SEND Reform Plans, Experts at Hand services, mainstream inclusion initiatives and other non-statutory reform activity do not replace:

  • SEN Support;
  • the right to request an EHC needs assessment;
  • provision specified in an EHCP;
  • statutory review, complaint or appeal routes.

Public information also varies considerably between local authorities. A council that has published less information may still be progressing reform internally.

Last checked: 16 August 2026

What families should do now

SEND reform is still developing, so families should continue using the current SEN Support and EHCP processes while also asking schools how newer inclusion arrangements are being introduced.

If your child is on SEN Support

  • Ask what written plan is being used to record your child’s needs, support, outcomes and review dates.
  • Ask what barriers to learning or participation the school has identified for your child.
  • Ask what support is available through the school’s universal SEND and inclusion offer.
  • If universal support is not enough, ask what targeted support or specialist input can be provided.
  • Check how progress is being measured and when support will next be reviewed.
  • Share relevant reports, assessments and information from external professionals with the SENCO.
  • Keep a simple written record of support provided, meetings, review dates and any needs that remain unmet.

Questions to ask about your school’s inclusion approach

Schools receiving the Inclusive Mainstream Fund are expected to develop and publish an inclusion strategy by 31 December 2026.

You may want to ask:

  • How is the school using its Inclusive Mainstream Fund allocation?
  • What barriers has the school identified for pupils with SEND?
  • What does the school’s universal inclusion offer include?
  • What targeted interventions are available when universal support is insufficient?
  • How are parents and carers being involved in identifying priorities?
  • When will the school’s inclusion strategy be published?
  • How will the school measure whether its inclusion approach is improving outcomes?

A school inclusion strategy is a whole-school plan. It does not replace your child’s individual SEN Support plan or any provision specified in an EHCP.

If you’re requesting — or waiting for — an EHC needs assessment

  • Continue using the existing legal process. SEND reform proposals have not removed the right to request an EHC needs assessment.
  • Ask your Local Authority for important decisions, deadlines and next steps in writing.
  • Gather relevant evidence, including school records, SEN Support reviews, professional reports and evidence of how your child’s needs affect learning and daily life.
  • Keep evidence of support that has been tried and whether it has met your child’s needs.
  • Do not assume that every possible school intervention must be exhausted before an EHC needs assessment can be requested.
  • Consider independent SEND advice or advocacy if statutory deadlines are missed or you need help understanding your options.

If your child already has an EHCP

  • Check that the special educational provision specified in the EHCP continues to be delivered.
  • Ask how any new school inclusion initiatives or specialist support will work alongside the EHCP.
  • Raise concerns if non-statutory support, including Experts at Hand or an inclusion base, is being presented as a replacement for provision written into the plan.
  • Continue to use annual reviews and existing complaint or appeal routes where appropriate.

If your child is in an early-years setting

  • Ask what SEND and inclusion support is currently available within the setting.
  • Ask whether the setting is benefiting from additional local inclusion funding and how that funding is being used.
  • Share relevant reports and information about your child’s needs with the setting.
  • Ask how support and progress are being recorded and reviewed.

If you’re exploring private assessments or specialist support

  • Check the provider’s professional registration, qualifications and relevant experience.
  • Ask how reports can support school planning, SEN Support or an EHC needs assessment.
  • Be clear whether you are seeking a diagnosis, assessment of needs, recommendations for support, therapy or a combination of these.
  • Remember that a formal diagnosis is not required before a school can provide appropriate SEN Support.

For a practical step-by-step guide to school-based support before escalation, see What Schools Must Do Before an EHCP Request.

Explore practical guidance: Support Guides

Explore Support Listings: Private ADHD & Autism Assessments · Autism Support · SEND & EHCP Support · Therapy & Specialist Support

Frequently Asked Questions About SEND Reform

Are SEND reforms already law?

Current SEND law remains in force. EHCPs, statutory assessment requests, annual reviews, appeals and local authority duties continue to apply while SEND reforms are being developed and implemented.

Are EHCPs being replaced?

The government has discussed changes to SEND support, including Individual Support Plans (ISPs), but EHCPs have not been abolished. Current EHCP rights remain unchanged unless future legislation changes the system.

What is an Individual Support Plan (ISP)?

An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is part of the Government’s proposed SEND reforms. The intention is that schools, nurseries and colleges would have a clearer duty to record a child or young person’s barriers to learning, the support being provided and the outcomes being worked towards.
The Government has proposed making ISPs a legal requirement for children and young people with SEND, but the detailed legislation and implementation arrangements are still being developed.
ISPs have not replaced SEN Support or EHCPs under the current system.
Individual Support Plans Explained

What should families do while SEND reforms are being implemented?

Families should continue using existing SEND processes, keep records of support provided, attend review meetings, work closely with schools and SENCOs, and seek advice where necessary. Current legal rights remain unchanged unless the law changes.

What is Experts at Hand?

Experts at Hand is a Department for Education initiative intended to help mainstream education settings access specialist advice earlier, including support from professionals such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and other specialist practitioners. It is intended to strengthen early support and does not replace EHCP provision.
What Is Experts at Hand?

Must a school spend £6,000 before an EHC needs assessment can be requested?

No. The £6,000 figure relates to how additional SEND support is commonly funded in mainstream schools. It is not a legal threshold that must be reached before a parent, school or young person can request an EHC needs assessment. The legal test is whether it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made through an EHCP.

Does my child need a diagnosis before school can provide SEND support?

No. Schools should respond to a child’s identified special educational needs and barriers to learning rather than waiting for a formal diagnosis.
A diagnosis can sometimes provide useful information, but it is not a requirement before appropriate SEN Support, reasonable adjustments or targeted support can be considered.
The latest mainstream inclusion guidance also encourages schools to identify barriers and provide universal or targeted support as early as possible.

What is a school inclusion strategy?

Schools receiving the Inclusive Mainstream Fund are required to publish an inclusion strategy explaining how they are working to remove barriers to learning and participation and how the additional funding is being used.
For the 2026–27 academic year, schools must publish this strategy by 31 December 2026.
The strategy is a whole-school document. It does not replace an individual SEN Support plan or provision specified in an EHCP.

Related SEND and EHCP guides

If you are trying to understand SEND reform, EHCPs, school duties or what may change for families, these guides may also help:

Are you a SEND provider? During reform periods, families search more for clear, structured support.
You can submit a Support Listing or claim your Support Listing to ensure your service is accurately represented.

This tracker summarises publicly available government, parliamentary, and sector information. It does not replace legal advice or formal SEND guidance.

Sources & references

Key sources and references used for this tracker:

Scroll to Top