Special educational needs system to be overhauled in England

February 23, 2026 - 22:11

A significant overhaul of England's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system has been announced, with changes set to reshape support for children over the next decade. The central pillar of the reform is a new, stricter national threshold for issuing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Under the proposed framework, by 2035, only children and young people with the most complex and severe needs will be eligible for an EHCP. This legal document currently entitles a child to tailored support and is often crucial for securing specific educational resources and funding.

Officials argue the current system is unsustainable, with soaring demand for EHCPs leading to lengthy delays and strained local authority budgets. The intention is to refocus resources on those with the greatest need, while developing a more robust mainstream system of early intervention and support for children with less severe requirements.

The long-term plan includes the creation of a national network of specialist "parent-priced" schools for children requiring the most significant support. Furthermore, local authorities will be mandated to introduce "inclusion plans" detailing how mainstream schools will be supported to help pupils with additional needs without an EHCP. The reforms aim to create a more consistent and financially stable system, though some parents and advocacy groups express concern that raising the EHCP threshold may leave many vulnerable children without essential legal protections.