SEND Reforms 2026: What Parents Need to Know

This is the single most important thing to know. Despite the headlines, no Act of Parliament has been passed. The Children and Families Act 2014 (Part 3) still sets out every right your child has, and the SEND Regulations 2014 and SEND Code of Practice still apply.

• EHCPs remain legally binding.
• The 20-week statutory timeline still applies.
• Annual reviews still happen as normal.
• SEND Tribunal appeal rights are unchanged.
• Section 42 placement and provision duties still bite.

The Every Child Achieving and Thriving — the Schools White Paper laid before Parliament on 23 February 2026 and the explanatory series published on the DfE Education Hub set out four main proposals:

• A new Individual Support Plan (ISP) — a school-based plan intended to cover most children currently on SEN Support or with an EHCP for mainstream needs.
• Stronger duties on mainstream schools to provide ordinarily available provision, with new training and accountability.
• Earlier identification, with a national framework for SEND support in early years and primary.
• A gradual transition from the current EHCP system, beginning no earlier than 2030 and only at the end of education phases (e.g. primary to secondary, post-16).

Crucially, the White Paper does not abolish EHCPs. The DfE has confirmed that EHCPs — in a reformed, digital form — will stay in place for children with the most complex needs, alongside new Specialist Provision Packages in mainstream or specialist settings. The day-to-day support for those children would be recorded in their Individual Support Plan.

The Government has confirmed its intention to legislate through a new Education for All Bill, announced in this year's King's Speech. The Bill is still subject to the consultation outcome and has not yet been passed, so nothing is law yet (source: DfE Education Hub, 13 May 2026).