SEND White Paper 2026: Government Schools White Paper Overhauls EHCP System With £4 Billion Reform Package

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has unveiled the long-awaited SEND White Paper 2026, a sweeping government schools white paper that promises to transform how England supports children with special educational needs and disabilities. The announcement marks what Phillipson calls a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to fix a system widely acknowledged to be failing.

What the Government Schools White Paper Proposes for SEND

At the core of the SEND White Paper 2026 is a shift away from the current EHCP-centric model toward a new Individual Support Plan (ISP) framework. Every child with identified SEND — including the estimated 1.4 million who do not currently hold an EHCP — will receive a school-led ISP with a statutory legal underpinning. The changes are expected to come into force in 2030, giving mainstream schools time to prepare.

Phillipson told media ahead of publication that the government would "spend more money" on SEND and that EHCPs "will have an important role to play in the new system," pledging that effective support would not be stripped away.

EHCP Reform: What Changes and What Stays

The government schools white paper does not abolish EHCPs outright, but it does introduce reassessments at key transition points. Children reaching the end of primary school — with Year 2 pupils cited as a specific cohort — may be reviewed to determine whether their needs should continue to be documented in an EHCP or moved to an ISP with mainstream support.

Parent groups and campaigners have responded with alarm. A joint statement from The Disabled Children's Partnership, Let Us Learn Too, and SEND Sanctuary demanded reforms must not strip legally enforceable plans from children who need them. One parent, Mrs Hind, described the current EHCP process for her son Harvey as "horrific" and said she supports reform but remains "extremely concerned" about funding changes.

Currently, only one in four disabled pupils in England holds an EHCP, and one in 14 young people waited longer than a year to receive one in 2024.

Bridget Phillipson's £4 Billion Funding Commitment

The SEND White Paper 2026 is backed by a £4 billion investment package. Key allocations include:

Bridget Phillipson said the package represents a "watershed moment for a generation of young people," aiming to end the postcode lottery of SEND support across England.

Laura Trott and Opposition Criticism

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott hit back sharply, accusing the government of lacking clarity and demanding families receive "cast-iron guarantees" that no child with an EHCP would lose support. Trott questioned whether the funding announced was genuinely new money, pointing to the £6 billion SEND deficit held by councils. NASUWT General Secretary Matt Wrack called the investment "barely a drop in the bucket," arguing years of underfunding cannot be addressed at this level.

Five Principles Behind the SEND White Paper 2026

The government schools white paper is structured around five core principles designed to guide SEND reform: early intervention so support arrives without delay; local provision so children learn near home; fair resourcing so every school can meet common needs; effective, evidence-grounded practice; and a shared model bringing education, health, and care services together with families.

What Comes Next for SEND and Government Schools

The SEND White Paper 2026 sets a long-term target to halve the disadvantage gap between pupils within two decades. Local authorities are projected to carry £6 billion in high needs deficits by March 2026, making the financial sustainability of these reforms a critical pressure point. With implementation of ISPs not beginning until 2030, families, schools, and councils face several more years of operating under the existing EHCP framework while structural change is built out.