National SEND reforms 2026-2029

In autumn 2026, Shropshire Council will begin a transformation of its services for children and young people with SEND, in line with national reforms.

We know you'll be wondering what this means for you and your child. At this stage, nothing is changing. However, when changes are confirmed, we'll share updates, explain how any changes will impact you and give you the chance to ask questions.

We'll work with you and support you through these changes to ensure that your child’s needs are met.

At the moment

  • The current SEND legal framework continues to apply
  • Existing education, health and care plans (EHCPs) remain legally enforceable
  • Annual reviews and phase-transfer processes continue under the current arrangements
  • Families can still request an EHC needs assessment
  • Current mediation and SEND tribunal rights continue
  • Schools and other settings must continue to identify and meet needs under their existing duties

The government’s proposal says that assessments under the new system would not begin until September 2029 and that there would be no change to support received through existing EHCPs before September 2030. Families receiving ordinarily available, targeted or specialist support won't currently be prevented from requesting an EHC needs assessment where they believe one may be necessary.

Our vision

Our vision is for Shropshire children and young people with SEND to be healthy, happy and safe, and able to achieve their potential to lead a fulfilling life. We want them to have, and to expect, the same opportunities in life as other children and young people. We want them to thrive and live their best life. The reforms will help to achieve that.

What we want to achieve
  • Improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, including attendance, progress, preparation for adulthood and access to timely support 
  • Strengthen inclusive practice so that more children can thrive in mainstream schools and settings, with specialist support available when needed
  • Improve confidence and experience for families, young people and settings through clearer pathways, better communication and meaningful co-production 
  • Develop a more sustainable local system by reducing avoidable escalation, improving local capacity and making better use of resources

What is the timeline for the changes?

Delivery will be phased. In the first year, the focus is on establishing the foundations with early pilots. In year two, we'll embed the approaches that showed impact at pilot stage. By year three, we aim to have a more mature, sustainable system with stronger local provision, clearer pathways and more consistent inclusive practice across Shropshire. This is a priority and will require work beyond the scope of the government reforms alone.

February 2026

The government published its schools white paper 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving', outlining reforms and inviting feedback.

June 2026

Shropshire Council submitted a plan to the Department for Education outlining how it will deliver the SEND reforms outlined by the government.

September 2026

Shropshire Council will learn whether the government has approved its plans. If the plans aren't approved, we'll work with the Department for Education to submit a revised version.

Autumn 2026

'Experts at Hand' design phase, and from January 2027 Experts at Hand phase one delivery begins. Experts at Hand will give schools early access to specialist advice, earlier coaching and support, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, educational psychology and specialist teaching. This will be a phased approach over three years.

2027 – 2029

An implementation period where schools, councils and the workforce prepare, and funding, training, regulations and guidance are developed. Education, health and care plans (EHCPs) continue exactly as today.

September 2029

From September 2029 individual support plans will start to be rolled out.

From 2030

Children currently on EHCPs would only move to the new system at the end of an education phase (eg primary to secondary, secondary to post-16). No child would be moved mid-phase. Children with the most complex needs, with criteria yet to be defined, are expected to keep EHCPs.

What will change with the SEND reforms?

The changes put forward by Shropshire Council reflect proposals from the government for national reforms. Legislation will be required before the government can introduce these changes, therefore these proposals are subject to future legislation. 

The proposals for changes to children’s services at Shropshire Council aim to improve the experience of families. They would do this by focusing on prevention and providing help early, and on helping staff from different services work better together.

For SEND, the changes would:  

  • Help children and young people with SEND thrive in mainstream education settings where possible
  • Provide appropriate specialist support in mainstream schools where needed
  • Help local services work better together so they deliver more, better services and help for families   

This would include:

  • Earlier identification of where help is needed
  • A focus on inclusive mainstream education
  • Shared understanding and consistent implementation of high-quality inclusive practice
  • Clearer expectations for families and settings
  • Stronger working between education, health and care services
  • Using data, dashboard and quality assurance to improve transparency, consistency and value for money
  • Better service for families from first contact onwards
  • Improving the quality and timeliness of education, health and care plans (EHCPs)    
  • Individual support plans (ISPs) - a digital plan produced by an early years setting, school or college in partnership with parents

Delivering these changes would rely on partners working together: parent and family carers, local authorities, health partners, early years, multi-academy trusts (MATs), schools, colleges and other education settings.

We'd work together with parent and family carers to build the inclusive system Shropshire’s children and young people deserve, and which will help them thrive. 

What won’t change?
  • Every child with a special school place in 2029 will keep it, if they want it, until they finish education
  • Children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in mainstream schools won't move to individual support plans (ISP) until at least 2030. This will only happen when moving between school phases (for example, primary to secondary)
  • Transition for children in mainstream settings with an EHCP who will best be supported in the future via an ISP (rather than an EHCP) will only begin from 2030 once the new inclusive mainstream system has been fully built. This will only happen as children naturally move between phases

I have a question that’s not answered here - who do I contact?

For more information go to:

Other organisations:

You can also find more information on the Department for Education website:

If you have a question about the reforms that's not answered here, send it to us and we'll answer it. Email Local.Offer@Shropshire.gov.uk