Latimer Tuition

Navigation

Latimer Tuition

Parent guide

SEND reforms: what parents need to know about EHCPs and Individual Support Plans

A calm, plain-English guide to what is changing in England, what has not changed yet, and what to ask your child’s SENCO while the current EHCP and SEND support system remains in place.

Start with the quick answerQuestions to ask the SENCO

Editorial

  • Portrait of Robin GibbonsLead authorFounder & CEO·Latimer Tuition
  • Reviewed byHeather LatimerTutor Matching & Customer Service·Latimer Tuition
  • Published
  • Last reviewed

Current answer

Will my child lose SEND support under the reforms?

For families in England, the short answer is: current SEND law and current EHCP processes remain in place for now. The government has consulted on changes, but those proposals have not already changed your child’s current legal support.

The same DfE explainer also gives the headline reassurance parents are likely to be looking for:

“No child is losing support they need.” — DfE Education Hub

The clearest timing point for parents is from the DfE Education Hub:

“No changes to the support given by EHCPs will begin before September 2030.” — DfE Education Hub

That does not mean every future detail is settled. It means parents should not be told that an EHCP has changed now simply because a white paper has been published. The DfE also says children with EHCPs are expected to have an Individual Support Plan as well:

“Every child with an EHCP will also have an Individual Support Plan” — DfE Education Hub

In plain English: an Individual Support Plan is planned as an additional digital record of day-to-day SEND support, not an immediate instruction to remove current EHCP provision.

What this means for parents

What has not changed yet

The current SEND system, including EHC needs assessments, EHCP annual review expectations and current EHC appeal processes, should still be treated as live until official legal changes take effect.

What is changing in the proposals

The DfE plans a new system of digital Individual Support Plans for children with SEND, with Specialist Provision Packages linked to future EHCPs for children with the most complex needs.

UK scope

This guide uses England’s SEND, EHCP and SEND Tribunal terminology. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different systems, so do not treat this as UK-wide legal advice.

Key points to check

Confirmed now

The consultation is England-only, the current system remains in place for now, and official parent guidance says EHCP support changes will not begin before September 2030.

Still to be finalised

The exact legal duties, revised Code of Practice wording, Specialist Provision Package detail and future complaints arrangements need final government publications before they can be treated as settled.

What to question

If anyone says support has changed already, ask which current legal document or local-authority decision they are relying on. A white paper alone should not be treated as a change to your child’s current provision.

EHCPs and Individual Support Plans: what is the difference?

Parents are likely to see both terms for a while. An EHCP is part of the current statutory system. An Individual Support Plan is part of the proposed new system and should be described carefully until the final law and guidance are published.

GOV.UK’s consultation glossary describes an Individual Support Plan as “a record of a child or young person’s barriers to learning” and the provision in place to overcome them.

A parent-facing comparison of current EHCPs and proposed Individual Support Plans.

QuestionEHCP / EHC planIndividual Support Plan

Who is it for?

Under current GOV.UK guidance, an EHC plan is for a child or young person up to age 25 who needs more support than SEN support can provide.

DfE proposals say every child with SEND would have a digital Individual Support Plan. Children with EHCPs would also have one.

What does it record?

An EHC plan identifies educational, health and social care needs and sets out the additional support required.

An ISP is intended to record needs, barriers to learning, day-to-day support and how that support will be delivered.

Is it current law?

Yes. EHCP duties and EHC appeal processes are part of the current system in England.

The legal duty to create ISPs is part of the proposed reform system and should be checked against the final Bill and guidance once published.

Does it replace support now?

No immediate replacement should be assumed. Official parent guidance says EHCP support changes will not begin before September 2030.

For a child with an EHCP, the ISP is expected to show practical day-to-day delivery alongside the EHCP, not remove the EHCP now.

How are parents involved?

Parents should continue taking part in current EHCP reviews, requests for assessment and local-authority discussions.

DfE and Contact both describe parent involvement in ISP development. Contact’s wording is: “Parents should be involved in producing the ISP.”

What happens before September 2030?

The dates below separate what parents can rely on now from what may change if the government publishes its consultation response, Bill wording or revised SEND guidance.

A timeline of known and expected SEND reform stages for parents.

TimingWhat sources sayWhat this means for parents

23 February to 18 May 2026

The DfE consultation on SEND reform ran during this period and applies to England.

The consultation itself did not change a child’s EHCP, SEN support or appeal rights.

After 18 May 2026

GOV.UK says the government is analysing feedback.

Parents should watch for the formal government response before treating detailed proposals as final.

Before any new law takes effect

Contact says a white paper does not change existing SEND law; the House of Commons Library says the reformed system needs legislative change.

Continue using current SENCO conversations, annual reviews, EHC needs assessment requests and EHC appeal processes where they apply.

Not expected before September 2029

The House of Commons Library says the proposed reformed system is not expected to come into effect until September 2029.

Treat this as an expected policy timing, not proof that every future detail is settled.

Before September 2030

The DfE Education Hub says EHCP support changes will not begin before September 2030.

A school or local authority should not reduce current EHCP provision now by relying only on the reform proposals.

From September 2030, subject to final rules

Parent charity guidance says changes are expected around transitions between school stages, with ISPs in place before any move to avoid a break in support.

Keep annual review paperwork, evidence and school correspondence organised well before any phase change.

How the proposed support layers fit together

The proposed system is described as a universal offer plus three further layers of support. This language is helpful for understanding the proposals, but parents should not assume their child has already been moved into a new category.

Contact has raised concerns that the white paper does not yet define complex needs clearly and that future EHCP thresholds could become higher. Treat this as a concern to monitor, not as a confirmed loss of current support.

Universal

The everyday inclusive teaching, support and early help that every child should benefit from in mainstream settings.

Targeted

Structured support for children with additional needs, recorded in a digital Individual Support Plan and developed with parents.

Targeted Plus

Support that includes more specialist input, such as education or health professionals, while still being recorded through the Individual Support Plan.

Specialist

Support for children with complex needs through a proposed Specialist Provision Package and EHCP. GOV.UK says the current package outlines are indicative and likely to change, so they should not be used as final eligibility rules.

What should I ask the SENCO now?

You do not need to wait for a final national reform plan to ask clear questions about the support your child receives today. These questions are designed to keep the conversation practical and evidence-based.

  • What support is actually happening now?

    Ask what support is being delivered each week, who provides it, how often it happens, and how it is recorded.

  • Who checks whether it is working?

    Ask what progress evidence the school uses, when support is reviewed, and who is responsible for adapting it if your child’s needs change.

  • How will parents be involved in an ISP?

    Ask how the school expects to involve parents if Individual Support Plans are introduced, and whether families will be able to see and comment on the plan.

  • If my child has an EHCP, is anything changing now?

    Ask whether current provision or annual review arrangements are changing. If the answer is yes, ask for the current legal or local-authority basis for that change.

  • What evidence should we keep?

    Keep copies of the EHCP or SEN support plan, review notes, school emails, attendance information, progress evidence, professional reports and examples of work or difficulty.

  • What happens if support is not delivered?

    Ask for the school complaints policy and, for EHCP matters, keep using current local-authority and EHC appeal information where it applies.

  • Who can give independent local advice?

    GOV.UK points parents to local Information, Advice and Support Services as well as the school or nursery SENCO.

A message you can adapt

Suggested wording to ask the school about current support

When this applies

Use this when you want to ask the SENCO for a calm review of current SEND support and future Individual Support Plan preparation.

Suggested wording

Hello, please could we arrange a meeting to review [child’s name]’s current SEND support? I would like to understand what support is already being delivered, how it is recorded, who monitors it, and how the school expects to involve parents if Individual Support Plans are introduced. If my child has an EHCP, please could you also confirm whether any current provision or annual review arrangements are changing now, and what current guidance or local-authority decision supports that change. Many thanks.

Why this helps

It asks for evidence, current arrangements and parent involvement. It also avoids accepting a vague answer that the white paper alone has changed your child’s support.

Current EHCP processes still matter

Until official changes take effect, parents should keep using the current system where it applies. This is especially important if a child’s needs are changing, support is not being delivered, or a formal decision has arrived.

Speak to the SENCO

Current GOV.UK guidance says parents who think their child may have special educational needs should contact the school’s or nursery’s SENCO.

You can still request an EHC needs assessment

Parents can ask the local authority to carry out an EHC assessment if they think their child needs more support than is available through SEN support.

Current timing still applies

GOV.UK guidance says the local authority tells parents within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan will be made and, if a plan is issued, the final plan must be provided within 20 weeks from the assessment request.

Some EHC decisions can still be challenged

Current GOV.UK guidance says parents can challenge decisions about assessment, whether to make a plan, special educational support in the plan or the school named in the plan.

Do not assume the same appeal process for future ISPs

Future ISP complaints and review arrangements need final legislation and guidance. Do not assume every future ISP issue will use the same process as current EHCP appeals.

Key terms parents may hear

These definitions keep current legal terms separate from proposed reform terms.

Plain-English SEND reform definitions for parents.

TermWhat it meansStatus to remember

SEND reforms

Proposed changes to England’s special educational needs and disabilities system, set out through the 2026 schools white paper and DfE consultation.

Proposed policy direction, not the same as already-enacted law.

Individual Support Plan

A proposed digital plan for every child with SEND, recording needs, barriers, support and delivery. Children with EHCPs would also have one.

Planned reform term; final legal detail needs checking once legislation and guidance are published.

EHCP / EHC plan

An Education, Health and Care plan is the current statutory plan for a child or young person up to age 25 who needs more support than SEN support can provide.

Current system in England.

SENCO

The special educational needs co-ordinator: the school or nursery contact GOV.UK tells parents to speak to about possible special educational needs.

Current school role.

Specialist Provision Package

A proposed nationally defined package for children with complex needs, intended to underpin future EHCPs.

Not final. GOV.UK says the current package list is indicative and likely to change.

Ordinarily Available Provision

Everyday support and adaptive teaching that mainstream settings are expected to provide before specialist help is considered.

A baseline idea in the reform consultation and useful language for school conversations.

SEND Tribunal

The current appeal process for certain EHC assessment and EHC plan decisions in England.

Current EHCP-related process; future ISP arrangements should be checked when final guidance is published.

Key points to check

The consultation response

GOV.UK says the government is analysing feedback. The formal response may change details or clarify timelines.

Bill wording and the SEND Code of Practice

The final Bill and any revised Code of Practice will matter more than broad policy summaries when deciding what schools and local authorities must do.

Specialist Provision Package detail

Do not treat draft package examples as final eligibility rules. GOV.UK describes the current package list as indicative and likely to change.

Future ISP complaints

Contact’s reading is that there is a proposed duty to make and monitor an ISP, but the future arrangements for enforcing the support in an ISP are not yet settled enough to state as final.

Nation-specific guidance

This article is about England’s DfE reform language. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland need separate local guidance.

What parents can do now

These actions are practical even while the national detail is still developing.

Recommendation

Keep your current paperwork together

Save the EHCP or SEN support plan, annual review notes, school correspondence, professional reports and examples that show progress or difficulty.

Recommendation

Ask for a support review, not a general update

A focused SENCO meeting should cover what support is delivered, how often, by whom, and how the school knows it is working.

Recommendation

Do not accept unsupported changes to EHCP provision

If support in an EHCP is being reduced, ask for the current legal or local-authority decision behind that change. The reform proposals alone should not be enough.

Recommendation

Use current GOV.UK guidance for current decisions

For EHC needs assessments and EHC plan appeals, current GOV.UK guidance remains the safest starting point while the current system remains in place.

Read current EHC plan guidance

Recommendation

Get help before deadlines pass

If a formal decision has arrived, look at the date on the letter and seek advice quickly. SEND deadlines can matter.

Sources used for this guide

The guide prioritises official and parent-specialist sources for SEND law, policy timing and practical parent questions.

  • GOV.UK: SEND reform consultation

    Department for Education. Published 23 February 2026; last updated 27 April 2026. Accessed 15 June 2026.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: SEND reform HTML version

    Department for Education. Updated 27 April 2026. Covers definitions, proposed support layers and ISP wording.

    Open source

  • DfE Education Hub: parent guide to SEND changes

    Department for Education blog, 13 May 2026. Covers EHCP timing and parent-facing ISP explanation.

    Open source

  • House of Commons Library: SEND reform briefing

    Published 4 March 2026. Gives parliamentary context on current system continuity and expected timing.

    Open source

  • Contact: schools white paper and SEND reforms

    Parent charity guidance on current-law caveats, parent involvement and parent concerns.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: SEND overview

    Current parent guidance on speaking to the SENCO and understanding SEND support.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: EHC plan extra help

    Current guidance on EHC plans, assessment requests and timing.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: appeal an EHC plan decision

    Current EHC plan appeal guidance and UK-nation caveat.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: Specialist Provision Packages

    DfE draft package information, with the caveat that the list is indicative and likely to change.

    Open source

Related guidance

More guidance from this section

More guidance from this part of the Ed Centre that may help with the same decision, stage or next step.

Related guidance

Post-GCSE options for parents

A calm parent guide to what your child can do after GCSEs in England, how the main options differ, and what to ask before they apply.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

Will my child lose their EHCP because of the SEND reforms?

Not in the immediate period because of the reforms alone. Current SEND law remains in place for now, and DfE parent guidance says changes to support given by EHCPs will not begin before September 2030. A child with an EHCP is also expected to have an Individual Support Plan, not automatically lose current support.

What is an Individual Support Plan?

An Individual Support Plan is a proposed digital record for every child with SEND. It is expected to record a child’s needs, barriers to learning, day-to-day support and how that support will be delivered. Its final legal status depends on the Bill and updated guidance.

Does an Individual Support Plan replace an EHCP?

Not immediately for existing EHCP support. DfE says every child with an EHCP will also have an Individual Support Plan. Future EHCP and Specialist Provision Package details should be treated as proposed until final legislation and guidance are published.

What happens before September 2030?

The government needs to respond to the consultation, introduce detailed legislation and update guidance. Until official changes take effect, parents should continue with current SENCO conversations, EHC needs assessment requests, annual reviews and current EHC appeal processes where they apply.

What should I ask my child’s SENCO now?

Ask what support is currently being delivered, how it is recorded, who monitors it, how progress is reviewed and how parents will be involved if Individual Support Plans are introduced. If your child has an EHCP, ask whether any current provision is changing now and what current decision supports that change.

Can I still ask for an EHC needs assessment or challenge a decision?

Yes. Current GOV.UK EHC assessment and appeal guidance remains relevant while the current system remains in place. GOV.UK guidance includes the current 16-week decision point and 20-week final-plan timing when a plan is issued.

Do the SEND reforms apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

No. The DfE reform, EHCP and SEND Tribunal language in this guide is England-specific. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different additional-needs or SEN systems and need separate local guidance.

Sources and references

Sources and references

Official guidance

  • 1.
    GOV.UK

    Department for Education / GOV.UK · Published 23 February 2026; last updated 27 April 2026 · Accessed

    Official DfE consultation page. Confirms England scope, consultation status and available SEND reform documents.

  • 2.
    GOV.UK

    Department for Education / GOV.UK · Updated 27 April 2026 · Accessed

    Primary DfE consultation text covering definitions, proposed support layers, ISP wording, funding and transition detail.

  • 3.
    DfE Education Hub

    Department for Education / Education Hub · 13 May 2026 · Accessed

    Official parent-facing DfE explainer covering parent reassurance, the EHCP/ISP relationship and September 2030 timing.

  • 4.
    GOV.UK

    Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care / GOV.UK · Published 11 June 2014; last updated 12 September 2024 · Accessed

    Statutory guidance for the current SEND system in England. Anchors continuing current duties and terminology.

  • 5.
    GOV.UK

    GOV.UK · No publication date visible on page · Accessed

    Current GOV.UK parent overview: who to talk to, SEN support and EHC plan overview.

  • 6.
    GOV.UK

    GOV.UK · No publication date visible on page · Accessed

    Current GOV.UK guidance on EHC plans, assessment requests, 16-week and 20-week timing and challenges to local-authority decisions.

  • 7.
    GOV.UK

    GOV.UK · No publication date visible on page · Accessed

    Current EHC plan appeal information. Future ISP complaints may not use the same process.

  • 8.
    GOV.UK

    Department for Education / GOV.UK · Updated 27 April 2026 · Accessed

    DfE draft Specialist Provision Packages page. It notes that the list is indicative and likely to change.

Peer-reviewed research

  • 1.
    House of Commons Library

    House of Commons Library · Published 4 March 2026 · Accessed

    Authoritative parliamentary briefing summarising the white paper, roll-out and transition. Corroborates dates and current-system caveats.

Other sources

  • 1.
    Contact

    Contact · 2026 page; references consultation closed 18 May 2026 · Accessed

    Parent charity explainer covering current-law caveats, parent involvement in ISPs and concerns families are likely to raise.