SEND reform

You may have heard about national changes being proposed through the Schools White Paper and SEND reform. This webpage explains what we know so far, what is not changing yet, and what will happen next locally. 

The key reassurance for Gateshead families - nothing is changing right now: 

  • there are no immediate changes to existing support, EHCPs or school provision
  • children and young people will continue to be supported under the current SEND Code of Practice
  • any future changes will be introduced gradually, with families involved
  • children and young people will continue to be supported throughout

We understand that any potential changes can feel worrying when they affect your family. Right now, we don't yet know exactly what the final plans will look like. Once the national consultation has closed and the government confirms its decisions, we'll be able to clearly explain what this means for families here in Gateshead. 

We're committed to keeping you informed every step of the way and to listening to families' views as plans continue to develop. As soon as we know more, we'll share updates and make sure you have the information you need to understand what's happening and why. 

Key changes proposed in the white paper 

  1. The government aims to ensure support will be clearer and more consistent - the reforms aim to make this more fair and predictable, so you know what help your child should receive wherever you live.
  2. The government aims for your child to get help earlier - the white paper places a big emphasis on early identification and early intervention, so problems don't build up over time. 
  3. Every child with additional needs will have an Individual Support Plan (ISP) - the reforms introduce legally required digital ISPs for all children with additional needs - not just those with an EHCP.
  4.  Support comes in three levels - the new system will have three tiers of support, depending on your child's needs:  
    1. targeted: small-group teaching or help with speech, language or sensory needs
    2. targeted plus: access to specialists (e.g. Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists)
    3. specialist: for children with the most complex needs, supported through an EHCP or specialist placement
  5. EHCPs stay - but will be streamlined - EHCPs will continue to support children with the most complex needs, but the process will become digital and more standardised from 2030.
  6. Schools must publish an inclusion strategy - every school will have to show clearly how they support children with SEND by publishing an Inclusion Strategy, replacing the old SEN information report. This means:  
    1.  you can more easily compare schools
    2.  you'll know exactly what your child's school should be offering 

What this means for children and families in Gateshead  

We know how important consistency is for children and families, and we want to be very clear that your child's current support remains exactly the same. 

This means your child's support will continue under the current law, just as it is now, this includes:  

  • Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) 
  • support in school 
  • therapy provision 
  • rights to assessment 

Any future changes, if they happen at all, would take time to introduce and would come with further guidance. We're committed to keeping families informed and making sure you're supported and kept updated as things develop.  

Find out more about any concerns you may have around key areas of support below: 

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) 

We know EHCPs are incredibly important to many families, so it's natural to feel anxious about what the proposals might mean. At this stage, EHCPs are not being removed. 

EHCPs currently bring together education, health and social care support in a single plan. This remains the case under current law. The White Paper includes proposals aimed at improving coordination between education, health and care services, but this does not change the existing legal framework at present. 

The White Paper also talks about possible changes to how support is described and delivered, rather than taking support away. This includes exploring: 

  • national standards for SEND support 
  • clearer expectations for what schools should provide 
  • different ways of describing and organising support 

For now, EHCPs and the current legal framework remain firmly in place. Nothing will change unless future legislation is agreed. We want to reassure families that existing plans and protections continue, and we'll make sure you understand clearly what any future proposals could mean if things do move forward. 

If your child or young person currently has an EHCP, they will continue to receive the support set out in their plan under the law as it stands today. 

Schools and local authorities must continue to hold annual reviews. The statutory requirement for annual reviews has not changed. 

It may help to know that: 

  • the SEND reforms are proposals only - they are not law 
  • the Children and Families Act 2014, which created EHCPs, remains fully in force 
  • local authorities must continue to meet all their legal duties around EHCPs 
  • any future changes to the system would need new legislation and would include a transition process. We understand how important stability and reassurance are for families, and we're committed to keeping you informed and supported if plans develop further. 

 

Assessments

At the moment, nothing is changing, but we know families are keen to understand what could be discussed for the future. The White Paper suggests the government may look at how assessments are carried out, with the aim of making the process work better for children and families. 

This could include exploring ways of: 

  • making the assessment process simpler 
  • reducing duplication between different services 
  • making support easier and quicker to access 

It's important to say that these ideas are still being explored, and the details have not yet been decided. We understand how important assessments are in getting the right support, and we'll keep families informed and involved as more information becomes available. 

 

SEND Code of Practice

There is no confirmed date yet for the updates to the SEND Code of Practice. Families will have opportunities to feed in before anything is finalised. The steps will be: 

  1. Government publishes its response to the SEND consultation 
  2. New legislation is introduced 
  3. A full public consultation on the updated SEND Code of Practice 
  4. Final SEND Code of Practice is published 

 

How can families have their say

The SEND consultation is open until 18 May 2026.  

Not every part of the reform is open to consultation, so some proposals cannot be changed through feedback. However, we strongly encourage you to have your say on the areas where your views can make a difference. 

How can families have their say in Gateshead's local SEND reform plan

Every area is required to develop a SEND reform plan, setting out how it will strengthen and improve its SEND offer over the next three years. We want to develop this plan together, making sure it reflects what truly matters to children, young people, and their families in Gateshead, and is shaped by their lived experiences. 

We would really value hearing your thoughts as a parent or carer on the government's proposed changes, and how you feel these could work best for children and families in Gateshead. Your experiences and views will play an important role in shaping Gateshead's local SEND reform plan. 

Complete our survey 

We will also be holding both online and face to face sessions in May (dates and venues to be confirmed) where we will:

  • talk through the government's proposals  
  • support parents and carers to share direct feedback 
  • use your views to help shape our plans for Gateshead's local SEND reform plan, including how the reforms could be implemented locally

Useful information and further reading 

Government information: 

  1. Every child achieving and thriving - policy paper (GOV.UK) 
  2. About the SEND reform consultation (GOV.UK)
  3. SEND consultation
  4. SEND consultation
  5. There is also this series of documents  setting out the key information and proposed reforms for parents/carers and professionals.

Information from charities: 

  1. Council for Disabled Children (CDC): an information webinar supports different audiences to understand what is most relevant to them and this summary of the parts of the white paper that they think most young people will be interested to know about.
  2. Contact - for families with disabled children: articles on Independent Support Plans (ISPs) and education health and care (EHC) plans, proposals to reduce the role of the tribunal, and what the white paper says about health support.
  3. Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) recorded webinar: Schools White Paper - SEND reform proposals, the implications and next steps.