Government admits system has “let children down” as major SEND reforms unveiled

Ministers say families have been failed as sweeping SEND reforms promise earlier support and fewer legal battles.

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Published: February 23, 2026 at 12:08 PM

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The government has admitted that the current special educational needs and disabilities system has “let children and their families down”, as it unveiled sweeping reforms that will reshape how support is delivered in schools and nurseries across England.

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In a major consultation published this week, ministers acknowledged that too many parents have been forced into “lengthy, adversarial and bureaucratic processes” just to secure basic help for their child.

The reforms promise earlier support in mainstream settings, new legal duties on schools and a redesign of Education, Health and Care Plans, but for many families, the big question will be: will this make things better, or more uncertain?

Ministers: “Children and families have been let down”

In the foreword to the consultation, the government says the current system is failing too many children.

“Successive governments have tried to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, but it is clear that for too many children and for too many families our system is failing,” it states.

It adds: “Children and families have been let down by the current system.”

The document describes a system where families are “forced to fight for support that should simply be there” and where help often comes too late.

For parents who have spent months, or even years, pursuing assessments or appealing tribunal decisions, that language will feel strikingly direct.

What is actually changing?

The reforms form part of what ministers describe as a decade-long overhaul of SEND support.

Here are the key changes parents need to know about:

1. A new legal Individual Support Plan for every child with SEND

All children and young people identified as having SEND will receive an Individual Support Plan, created by their school, college or early years setting.

These plans will be a legal requirement for settings and will set out a child’s needs and the support in place. They will apply regardless of whether a child has an EHCP.

The government says these plans will be digital, easier to update and developed with parents.

2. Earlier help in mainstream settings

Ministers say support should not be “locked behind lengthy and bureaucratic individual assessment processes”.

A new “Universal offer” will set out what every mainstream setting must provide, backed by National Inclusion Standards. On top of that, there will be Targeted and Targeted Plus layers of support, including access to professionals such as speech and language therapists.

The aim is to reduce the need for families to pursue statutory assessments just to unlock help.

3. EHCPs will be retained, but reshaped

Education, Health and Care Plans will remain for children with the most complex needs. However, they will in future be based on new nationally defined Specialist Provision Packages, designed to create more consistency across the country.

The government says new assessments under the reformed system will begin from September 2029, with no changes to support received via existing EHCPs before at least September 2030.

Over time, ministers say they expect fewer children to need an EHCP in order to access support, as more help is delivered earlier in mainstream settings.

£7 billion more for SEND

Alongside the structural changes, the government has pledged £7 billion more spending on SEND support compared with 2025 to 2026 levels.

This includes:

There will also be more than £200 million invested in national SEND training, with all school and early years staff expected to benefit by the end of this Parliament.

What this means for your child

For many parents, the detail matters more than the headlines.

If your child already has an EHCP

There will be no immediate change. Existing EHCP support will continue, and transitions to the new system are not expected before 2030.

Over time, EHCPs will be linked to new Specialist Provision Packages, but ministers say they will remain a legal entitlement for children with the most complex needs.

If your child is waiting for assessment

In the short term, the current system remains in place. Longer term, the government hopes that earlier Targeted and Targeted Plus support in mainstream schools will mean fewer families need to seek a statutory plan just to access therapies or specialist input.

If your child receives SEN support without a plan

You can expect a new Individual Support Plan, which schools will be legally required to produce for any child with identified SEND.

A system under pressure

The consultation acknowledges that demand for SEND support has risen sharply in recent years, with six children in every classroom now identified as having additional needs.

Ministers argue that investing earlier and strengthening mainstream provision will prevent needs from escalating and reduce the number of families forced into legal disputes.

However, the reforms will now go through a 12-week consultation period, with legislation expected later.

For families who have felt exhausted by the current system, the admission that it has “let children down” may feel long overdue. The real test will be whether these promises translate into faster assessments, clearer communication and meaningful support in classrooms.

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As always with SEND, what matters most is not the policy wording, but whether your child gets the help they need, when they need it.

Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.

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