The UK government has published plans to reform the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England.The reforms introduce new terminology including Individual Support Plans

The UK government has published plans to reform the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system in England.

• The reforms introduce new terminology including Individual Support Plans (ISPs), “targeted,” “targeted plus,” and “specialist” support layers, and national inclusion standards.

• The education secretary stated the reforms aim to provide SEND support “when they need it, as routine and without a fight.”

Changes to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs):

• By 2035, only children with the most complex needs will qualify for EHCPs.

• EHCPs are legal documents identifying a pupil’s needs and specifying required support.

• Local authorities are responsible for ensuring EHCPs are implemented.

• The proportion of pupils with EHCPs was 2.8% until 2015.

• The proportion has increased to 5.3% since 2015.

• The government states that demand is projected to continue rising without reform.

• Children who currently have an EHCP, or have been assessed as needing one, will retain it until they complete their current education phase.

• Reassessments will begin from September 2029 at the end of each education phase.

• Parents will retain the right to apply for EHCPs.

• EHCP decisions can be challenged at tribunal.

• The proportion of children receiving EHCPs is expected to continue rising during the rollout of reforms.

• The government aims for the proportion to return to current levels by 2035.

Introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs):

• ISP stands for Individual Support Plan.

• All pupils with SEND will have an ISP, including those without EHCPs.

• ISPs will outline a child’s needs, required support, and intended outcomes.

• ISPs are described as flexible day-to-day support plans.

• EHCPs will continue to provide legal entitlement to support.

• Children with EHCPs will also have ISPs detailing delivery of EHCP provisions.

• All children will have a legal right to an ISP.

• Nurseries, schools, or colleges will be responsible for consulting parents and drafting ISPs.

• ISPs will be reviewed at least annually.

• Complaints about ISPs must first go through the school complaints process before escalation to local authorities or government.

New support structure:

• A “universal offer” will apply to all children.

• All children with SEND will have an ISP determining their support level.

• There will be three support layers: targeted, targeted plus, and specialist.

• Targeted support may include small group help and reasonable adjustments.

• Examples of adjustments include coloured paper or laptops for pupils with dyslexia.

• Targeted plus support includes access to specialists such as speech and language therapists and educational psychologists.

• Targeted plus support includes dedicated SEND spaces in schools called inclusion bases.

• Specialist support is for children with the most complex needs.

• Children receiving specialist support will have a specialist provision package.

• Specialist provision packages will be created by education, health, and care professionals.

• New EHCPs will be issued only to children with specialist provision packages.

• EHCPs will be based on specialist provision packages and provide legal entitlement to specified support.

• Children may move between support layers if their needs change.

• National inclusion standards are planned to be in place by 2028.

• National inclusion standards will define expected levels of support for children and families.