England SEND reforms: ISPs for all, EHCPs reviewed 2029

Big things are being proposed for SEND in England. If you are a parent, carer, teacher or pupil, the short version is this: support could be reorganised from the ground up. As of 19 February 2026, these are leaked details reported by the BBC, with some points first flagged by the New Statesman, not the final policy. We’ll walk through the key ideas and what they might mean for you.

What changes first. Under the proposals, every child identified with special educational needs would have a school‑led Individual Support Plan, known as an ISP. This would sit alongside a tighter use of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Pupils who already have EHCPs would be reassessed when they move between phases-such as from primary to secondary-from 2029.

Phase transitions could also include the move from secondary to college. According to BBC reporting, ministers expect that after reassessment a smaller proportion of pupils would keep EHCPs, with more support delivered through ISPs in mainstream settings. The stated aim is to focus on children’s outcomes as well as the support listed.

Support would be grouped into three tiers labelled Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist. For the most complex needs, national ‘Specialist Provision Packages’ would set out what must be provided. An expert panel would agree these packages, and an EHCP would guarantee the education elements within them. That points to EHCPs being reserved for the most complex profiles.

Scale matters. The BBC says around 482,000 school‑age pupils currently have an EHCP in England, rising to nearly 639,000 when including those up to age 25 and those not in school. Extending ISPs to all children with SEND could bring a further 1.28 million pupils into a formal plan. The Department for Education has not yet published the legal detail on ISPs, including how enforceable they will be.

Cost pressures sit in the background. The government has already said SEND spending will move to central government after 2028. The Office for Budget Responsibility puts the projected shortfall at about £6bn by that point without significant change. The New Statesman reports a proposed £60,000 annual price cap for places in the independent special school sector as part of the wider package.

Ministers argue that earlier, clearer support could help more children sooner and reduce the need for intensive interventions later. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has signalled the need for consistent national criteria so families can see which level of help applies and when. There is also an ambition for more needs to be met in mainstream classrooms, with extra training for teachers and an inclusion unit in every secondary school.

School leaders are watching the funding and delivery questions. Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Head Teachers told the BBC the current system fails children and schools, and that these ideas could help if money, staffing and implementation are credible. SEND campaigners warn that reassessment and tighter eligibility could dilute legal protections if families cannot challenge decisions effectively.

What this could mean for parents and carers. Your child’s existing EHCP remains in force until the law changes and any reassessment happens at a transition point. Keep clear records of needs, evidence and what works; stay in regular contact with the school’s SENCO; and ask for written timelines. If your child moves phase from 2029, expect a review and ask how to appeal if you disagree with the outcome.

What this could mean for teachers and SENCOs. Expect a bigger role in creating and reviewing ISPs with a sharper emphasis on measurable outcomes. Strong classroom notes, consistent strategies and clear communication with families will matter more than ever. Plan now for training offers and how an ‘inclusion unit’ might operate for pupils who need targeted or targeted‑plus support during the day.

What this could mean for pupils. You should see your support plan in plain language and know who is helping you with what. If the proposals land as described, more help would be available earlier in mainstream schools, while pupils with complex needs would still have EHCP‑level guarantees. Moving schools from 2029 could trigger a review, so keep examples of strategies that help you learn.

What we still do not know. The exact legal status of an ISP has not been published. We do not yet have the national standards for Specialist Provision Packages, the make‑up and powers of expert panels, or the appeals route if an ISP is judged inadequate. We also lack detail on how the projected £6bn gap will be closed while protecting children’s rights.

A quick worked example to make this real. A pupil with dyslexia who currently receives school‑based adjustments but no EHCP might, under the new model, receive an ISP at the Targeted level with specific reading interventions and regular progress checks. A pupil with autism who needs daily therapeutic input and specialist timetabling might be matched to a Specialist package, with an EHCP setting the legal floor for educational provision.

Where the politics sits. Leaks over half‑term have frustrated some MPs and raised expectations for rapid clarity. With Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer managing internal pressures, ministers will want to show reforms extend rights rather than roll them back. The Department for Education says the forthcoming Schools White Paper will expand children’s rights, embed needs‑led support locally and get help to pupils earlier.

What happens next and how to stay informed. The Department for Education says full plans will be released shortly, with some briefings suggesting as early as Monday 23 February 2026 when MPs return to Parliament. Until the official papers are out, treat every claim as provisional. Check your local authority’s ‘Local Offer’, talk to your SENCO, keep copies of everything, and we’ll update this guide when the detail is published.