SEND Reform in England: What Is Proposed, and What Can Families Do Now?
Updated: Oct 11
England • Information checked 10 September 2026.
As a parent navigating SEND as well as someone with a care background, I know these announcements are not abstract. The question underneath a headline is often: “Will my child get the support they need?”
That is why I want Looking Glass Care's discussion to separate what is proposed from what a family can do today. We can take reform seriously without treating a future plan as a decision about an individual child.
What has the government proposed?
The Department for Education published SEND reform: putting children and young people first in February 2026. The main consultation is now closed.
Its proposals include stronger support in mainstream settings, National Inclusion Standards, digital Individual Support Plans and Specialist Provision Packages linked to a changed EHCP system. The consultation describes a phased approach, including proposed changes from 2029 onwards.
These are proposals and planned arrangements in that document. The consultation itself does not amend a child's EHCP or enact new eligibility rules. It is especially important to distinguish a government commitment, a consultation outcome and legislation that has actually taken effect.
A separate issue: education outside school
A separate EOTAS consultation, published in July 2026, considers provision outside school or college, including relevant arrangements for health-related absence and online alternative provision. Its page was marked open when checked on 10 September 2026.
That discussion matters to families whose children cannot simply access an ordinary school day. Check the official page for the current status before trying to respond. A comment in our forum will not count as a consultation response.
What can families do now?
The current GOV.UK EHCP guide explains requesting an EHC needs assessment, the plan-making process and routes for challenging specified local-authority decisions. If support is needed now, use the current process rather than waiting for a future reform.
My practical suggestion is to keep a short, useful evidence trail:
Describe the need in everyday language, including strengths and what helps.
Record what support is being provided and how often.
Note the effect when support works, is missing or is unsuitable.
Keep the child's or young person's views visible.
Record the question or action you want addressed next.
A record can be brief and still be valuable. It does not need to make a family's life look like a professional report. Equally, a pile of paperwork becomes more useful when the reader can see the pattern and the requested action.
What professionals and employers can contribute
Health and social care professionals can help by making observations concrete and explaining their relevance to daily functioning. Education staff can record the support tried and its effect. Each person should stay within their role and avoid promising an outcome they cannot decide.
Employers also have a stake in this conversation: staff may be combining paid work with appointments, school calls and caring responsibilities. Listening to the practical pressure helps make workplace discussions more informed, without assuming every family's needs are the same.
Talk about the change that would matter to you
Our EHCP Evidence Builder Workbook & Templates and Building a Strong EHCP Evidence Trail course offer a way to organise the next conversation. For an individual enquiry about our support, contact Looking Glass Care.
In the forum, tell us: what would an effective SEND system make easier in your child's ordinary week? Share the change you want to see, without names, school details or uploaded EHCPs.
For a practical next step, read our reasonable-adjustments planning guide. Explore more SEND and care guides or book an initial consultation to discuss the support you are looking for.
Information reference and for more information see:
Department for Education (2026a) SEND reform: putting children and young people first (HTML version). GOV.UK. Updated 27 April 2026. Available at: GOV.UK — SEND reform: putting children and young people first (HTML version) (Accessed: 10 September 2026).
Department for Education (2026b) SEND reform: education otherwise than at school. GOV.UK. Updated 14 July 2026. Available at: GOV.UK — SEND reform: education otherwise than at school (Accessed: 10 September 2026).
UK Government (n.d.a) Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): extra help. GOV.UK. Available at: GOV.UK — Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): extra help (Accessed: 10 September 2026).
Put this into practice: explore the relevant collection below and check each listing for its audience, contents, format and current price.
Useful resources for this topic
If you would like a practical record to use alongside this article, the resources below explain their scope, format and price. Choose only the material that fits your circumstances; a completed template is a starting point for action and review.
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