SEND reform 2026: what families need to know

The government's 2026 SEND reforms propose a new support system for children and young people in England. They do not remove or rewrite your child's current EHC plan today.

The main SEND reform consultation closed on 18 May 2026. Its proposals say assessments under the new system would start in September 2029 and support received through existing EHCPs would not change before at least September 2030. Those dates still depend on legislation and detailed rules.

This article reflects the position on 20 August 2026. It is general information, not legal advice.

Are EHCPs being abolished?

No. The government says EHCPs would remain for children and young people who need the overall support described in a future Specialist Provision Package.

The proposed threshold and structure would change. That is different from abolishing EHCPs altogether.

For now, the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Regulations 2014 and the current SEND Code of Practice still apply. Your local authority must continue to review and maintain an existing plan and secure the special educational provision in Section F.

What is an Individual Support Plan?

The government proposes a legal duty for schools to create an Individual Support Plan, usually shortened to ISP, for every child and young person with SEND.

An ISP would record needs, support and outcomes. The government describes it as legally backed, but it would not carry the same wider entitlement as an EHCP. The final content, enforcement routes and relationship between ISPs and EHCPs will depend on legislation and later guidance.

Families should be cautious if anyone says a current EHCP can already be replaced with a new national ISP. That system is not in force.

What are Specialist Provision Packages?

Specialist Provision Packages are proposed national descriptions of support for groups of complex needs. They would help decide who qualifies for an EHCP in the new system and what the plan should contain.

The current package outlines are drafts. The government says an expert panel will develop and test them, including work with parents and professionals. They should not be treated as settled eligibility rules.

When could a child move to the new system?

The proposed sequence is:

1. New-system assessments begin in September 2029.
2. Existing EHCP support remains unchanged before at least September 2030.
3. Transitions happen at the end of an education phase, such as primary, secondary or post-16, rather than halfway through a phase.
4. An ISP should be in place before an EHCP transition, so support does not stop between plans.

The government has also proposed protections for children already in special schools and for older pupils approaching a phase transfer. The detail remains subject to legislation.

What stays the same now?

Current rights and deadlines still apply. You can still:

• ask for an EHC needs assessment
• comment on a draft plan for at least 15 days
• ask for a school or college to be named
• challenge appealable decisions through mediation and the SEND Tribunal
• expect the local authority to secure Section F provision
• ask for the plan to be reviewed at least every 12 months

Use the existing process rather than waiting for reform. If you have received a draft, follow the current draft EHCP review method and use your 15-day response period.

What should families do during the transition period?

Keep the current record accurate. At each annual review:

• check that needs remain complete in Section B
• compare Section F with current professional advice
• record provision that was not delivered
• update outcomes and preparation-for-adulthood planning
• keep copies of the report and local-authority decision

Do not agree to weaker wording because a future system has been announced. The plan in force today remains the document the local authority must follow.

Unisen helps families keep plan sections, evidence, comments and review dates together while the reform details develop.

Explore the family workspace.