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last mo.

Government Readies Autumn White Paper to Tighten SEND Plans and Boost Mainstream Support

Reforms aim to reduce a looming funding shortfall, shorten lengthy assessments through tighter plan eligibility paired with expanded in-school support before publication this autumn.

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Parents have been campaigning for better SEND provision for their children for years. (Pictured here: a protest held outside Downing Street in 2019)
Let's reduce the tax by accepting different brains need different schools
Every child at the school has an EHCP and they have a maximum of six children in each class with specially trained teachers

Overview

  • Councils anticipate a £6 billion high-needs funding gap by March 2026 as the number of EHCPs surpasses 638,700.
  • Draft proposals would tighten evidence criteria for EHCPs and reserve statutory plans for pupils with the most complex needs.
  • Expanded SEND units in mainstream schools will receive extra funding along with integrated specialist training for all teachers.
  • SEND tribunal appeals reached 24,000 in 2024/25, with 99 percent of cases ruled in parents’ favour, highlighting persistent system bottlenecks.
  • The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that bold SEND reforms may face political resistance but are essential to restore fiscal sustainability.