SEND Reform 2026: What Parents Need to Know About EHCP Changes | EHCP Clarity
SEND reform 2026

SEND reform is coming — but current EHCP rights still apply

SEND reform is creating uncertainty for families. But if your child is struggling now, the practical question is not whether the system may change later. It is whether your child is getting the support they need today.

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Quick answer

EHCPs have not been abolished. The current process still applies. Proposed reforms may change how support is organised in future, but if your child's needs are not being met today, evidence gathering and local authority decisions can take months — so sitting still carries its own risk.

What is changing in SEND reform?

The government has published proposed SEND reforms alongside the schools white paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving (February 2026). These are proposals subject to legislation — they are not yet in force. Key proposed changes include:

  • A new tiered model of support: universal, targeted, targeted plus, and specialist
  • Digital Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for children and young people with identified SEND
  • Specialist Provision Packages — nationally defined support packages that may form the basis of future EHCPs
  • Greater emphasis on inclusion in mainstream settings, with more specialist support embedded in schools
  • A proposed transition starting from September 2029 for assessments under a reformed system

See our SEND white paper guide and ISP vs EHCP comparison for more detail.

What has not changed yet?

Under current law, the EHCP framework established by the Children and Families Act 2014 remains fully in place. Parents can still:

  • Request an EHC needs assessment from the local authority
  • Gather and submit evidence of unmet need
  • Challenge refusals to assess or issue through mediation and the SEND Tribunal
  • Request amendments at annual review
  • Hold the local authority to account for Section F provision

Do current EHCP rights still apply?

Yes. Until primary legislation is enacted and implemented, the current statutory framework applies. Government proposals suggest no changes to support received through existing EHCPs before at least September 2030, but this is not yet law. If your child has an EHCP today, it remains a legally binding document. If you believe your child needs an EHCP, the current assessment route is still the one you use. See our EHCP current rules guide.

Should parents wait?

If your child's needs are not being met and school support is not enough, waiting for reform is unlikely to help. Reform may change how support is organised in future, but it does not resolve unmet need today. Parents who are already worried should not sit still.

The current EHCP system still applies. Use it properly while it is still the route available today. If school support is not meeting need, waiting for reform is not a plan.

Why evidence matters now

Strong EHCP requests are built on clear evidence. School progress data, SEN support plans, professional reports, attendance records and your parent chronology take time to gather and organise. local authority decisions, refusals and appeals add further months.

If support is not enough now, start collecting the right information rather than trying to rebuild the story later. See our EHCP evidence checklist before reform and parent action plan.

SEND reform guides

Frequently asked questions

Are EHCP laws changing?
The government has published proposed SEND reforms and consulted on changes, but primary legislation has not yet been enacted. The current EHCP framework under the Children and Families Act 2014 still applies today. Proposed reforms may change how support is structured in future, subject to legislation and implementation plans.
Are EHCPs being scrapped?
No — not under current law. EHCPs remain the statutory route for children and young people whose needs require provision beyond what mainstream resources can normally provide. Proposed reforms suggest EHCPs may be linked to Specialist Provision Packages in future, but this is not yet in force and existing EHCPs are proposed to be protected during transition.
Should I apply for an EHCP before SEND reform?
If your child's needs are not being met and you believe an EHC needs assessment may be appropriate, you can use the current process now. There is no fixed legal deadline tied to reform. The practical reason to act is that evidence gathering, local authority decisions and appeals take months — and your child's needs exist today, not only when legislation changes.
Will my child lose their EHCP?
Under current law, an EHCP remains in force until lawfully amended or ceased through the statutory review process. Government proposals (not yet enacted) indicate no changes to support received through existing EHCPs before at least September 2030, with transition planned at natural phase changes. Nothing in current law removes an EHCP without a formal process and appeal rights.
What is an Individual Support Plan?
An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is a proposed digital record in the government's SEND reform plans. It would set out a child or young person's day-to-day support in nursery, school or college. ISPs are not yet a legal requirement — they are part of proposed reforms subject to legislation. EHCPs remain the current statutory route for the most complex needs.
What is a Specialist Provision Package?
A Specialist Provision Package is a proposed nationally defined package of evidence-based support for children with the most complex needs. Under government proposals, future EHCPs may be based on these packages — but this is not yet law. The current EHCP assessment process under the Children and Families Act 2014 still applies today.
Can I still request an EHC needs assessment?
Yes. Any parent, carer, young person aged 16 or over, school or professional can request an EHC needs assessment under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014. The local authority must respond within six weeks. Proposed SEND reforms do not remove this right under current law.
Should I wait for the new SEND system?
If your child is struggling and support is not enough, waiting for reform is unlikely to resolve the problem. The current EHCP process is still the route parents use today. Evidence, school records and professional reports take time to gather — and local authority decisions and appeals can add further months of delay.
What evidence do I need for an EHCP?
Strong applications typically include school progress data, SEN support plans and reviews, attendance and behaviour records, professional reports (educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, paediatrician, CAMHS), and a clear parent chronology showing unmet need. You do not need every report before applying, but organised evidence strengthens your case.
Can EHCP Clarity help me apply?
EHCP Clarity helps parents organise information, check which route may apply, build evidence checklists, draft parent statements and chronologies, and prepare a structured pack for review. It does not provide legal advice, does not guarantee an assessment or EHCP outcome, and does not replace SENDIASS, IPSEA or a SEND solicitor.

EHCP application and evidence guides

Sources and further reading

Important: EHCP Clarity provides general information and document-organisation support. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee an EHC needs assessment, EHCP, school placement or tribunal outcome. Parents should use official guidance and seek specialist legal advice where needed.

This is general information, not legal advice. EHCP Clarity helps parents organise and prepare their own materials. It does not provide legal advice, legal representation, or tribunal advocacy, and nothing on this page should be relied on as a substitute for advice about your specific situation. For free independent expert support, contact IPSEA, SOS!SEN, or your local SENDIASS. For legal representation, instruct a SEND solicitor.

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