SEND Reform in the UK, a Time of Change - What Families and Schools Need to Know

bMindful Psychology
5 hours ago
3 min read

Four young children running outside. They are smiling. Having a movement break.

By bMindful Psychology

Change in education and support systems can feel overwhelming, especially when it affects children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Many families have worked hard to secure the right support for their children, and it’s completely understandable to feel uncertain about what the future holds.

Currently, the UK government has published a major consultation called “SEND reform: putting children and young people first”, alongside a wider schools White Paper titled Every child achieving and thriving — inviting families, professionals and settings to share their views on how the SEND UK system should be reformed.

It’s important to know that nothing has been finalised into law yet. What we are seeing now is a set of proposals and questions that the government is seeking input on - in other words, this is a national conversation, not a finished policy.

What the Proposed UK SEND Reforms Say

The communicated aims of the reform proposals is to build a system that’s clearer, fairer and more supportive for every child with SEND - whether they are just being identified with extra needs or already have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

At a high level, the reforms focus on several intentions many parents will recognise as familiar themes:

Earlier, More Supportive Help

The consultation emphasises the importance of early intervention, with the intent that support should start as soon as needs are identified. This reflects a growing understanding that the earlier children get the right input, the better they can access learning and thrive.

Tailored Support Across Settings

Rather than relying solely on EHCPs as the main way of formalising need, the reforms propose a tiered approach to support. It proposes any children’s needs would be met through Individual Support Plans (ISPs), agreed between families and schools, while EHCPs would be targeted at those with the most complex and specialist needs.

This approach aims to recognise that support happens every day in classrooms, staff teams, and community settings, not just through statutory processes, and to bring that everyday provision into a clearer framework.

What Is Being Consulted On - Not Decided Yet

It’s completely valid for parents to wonder what this means in practice. Here are some of the key areas open for consultation:

Legal Rights and Protections

Reforms propose changes to how SEND disputes are resolved, with a stronger role for mediation and the SEND Tribunal remaining as a back-stop mechanism, albeit potentially with a narrower role than currently.

This has raised legitimate questions among parents about how legal rights and enforceability would operate — and that is precisely why the government is seeking feedback on these plans.

Roles of Different Plans

Proposals suggest that EHCPs would remain available for complex needs, while many other children’s support would sit within locally agreed plans developed between schools and families. This is an area where the detail really matters, and is why parents and school views are needed.

Phased Timeline

The government has signalled that changes would not happen overnight. Plans expect reforms to be phased in over several years, with aspects starting around 2028–29, giving schools, local authorities and families time to prepare.

What May Get Better - The Positive Focus

Despite uncertainty, there are several aspects of the proposals that many families may find reassuring:

More specialist support available in mainstream settings, with extra specialist staff such as speech and language therapists and educational psychologists being made available more widely through an “Experts at Hand” offer.

Improved teacher training and workforce development, so that SEND knowledge becomes a core part of education practice, not an afterthought.

A national conversation that explicitly invites parent voices, recognising that families’ insights are essential for lasting, meaningful reform.

These proposals reflect a hope that the SEND system becomes less bureaucratic and more supportive in everyday settings, and that children can get the help they need without unnecessary delay.