What does SEND stand for?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It is the term used in England for children and young people who have learning difficulties or disabilities that call for special educational provision.

What is the difference between SEND and SEN?

SEN (Special Educational Needs) refers specifically to educational needs. SEND adds disabilities — covering both learning difficulties and disabilities that affect a child's access to education. In practice, parents and schools often use the terms interchangeably.

What is the difference between SEND and an EHCP?

SEND is the broad system of support for children with special needs and disabilities. An EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) is a specific legal document within that system — issued by the local authority for children whose needs require statutory provision beyond mainstream school resources. Not every child with SEND has an EHCP.

Does every child with SEND need an EHCP?

No. Most children with SEND are supported through SEN support in school — the graduated assess-plan-do-review cycle funded from the school's notional SEN budget. EHCPs are for children whose needs cannot reasonably be met from those mainstream resources.

How is SEND changing under reform?

Proposed SEND reforms may introduce Individual Support Plans for all children with identified SEND and link future EHCPs to Specialist Provision Packages. These are proposals subject to legislation — the current EHCP framework still applies today.

Where do I start if I think my child needs more support?

Start by documenting your concerns, what school is providing, and what is not working. If SEN support has been tried and is insufficient, you can request an EHC needs assessment under the current process. Use our route checker to identify your next step.

SEND explained

What is SEND? — and how it relates to EHCPs

SEND means Special Educational Needs and Disabilities — the system in England for supporting children who need extra help to access education. If you are worried about SEND reform or whether your child needs an EHCP, start here.

Assess my route — free Build my pack — £149/year What is an EHCP?

Quick answer

SEND is the overall system for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities in England. SEN support is school-led help for most children with SEND. An EHCP is a legal plan from the local authority for children whose needs require statutory provision beyond mainstream resources. Proposed SEND reforms may change how support is structured in future, but the current EHCP process still applies today.

What SEND means in practice

A child has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability that calls for special educational provision — meaning provision that is additional to or different from what is normally available in mainstream schools. This is defined in section 20 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

SEND covers a wide range of needs: autism, ADHD, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, sensory needs, physical disabilities, social emotional and mental health needs, and many others. There is no fixed list of conditions — it depends on the impact on learning.

The layers of SEND support

Quality-first teaching (universal)

All schools must make reasonable adjustments and differentiate for pupils with SEND within everyday classroom practice.

SEN support (school-led)

The assess-plan-do-review cycle for pupils with identified SEN. Funded from the school's notional SEN budget (from the school's notional SEN budget). Not legally binding.

EHCP vs SEN support →

EHCP (local authority-led)

A statutory legal document specifying provision the local authority must secure. Carries rights of appeal to the SEND Tribunal. The current route for the most complex needs.

What is an EHCP? →

Proposed: Individual Support Plans (ISPs)

A proposed digital record in SEND reform plans for day-to-day support. Not yet law. See our ISP vs EHCP guide.

ISP vs EHCP →

SEND and the proposed reforms

SEND reform is creating uncertainty for parents. The government has proposed changes including tiered support, Individual Support Plans, and Specialist Provision Packages. None of this has replaced current EHCP law.

If your child is struggling and support is not enough, do not wait for reform to clarify your next step. Read our SEND reform hub for a full parent guide.

Where to start

Frequently asked questions

What does SEND stand for?: SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It is the term used in England for children and young people who have learning difficulties or disabilities that call for special educational provision.
What is the difference between SEND and SEN?: SEN (Special Educational Needs) refers specifically to educational needs. SEND adds disabilities — covering both learning difficulties and disabilities that affect a child's access to education. In practice, parents and schools often use the terms interchangeably.
What is the difference between SEND and an EHCP?: SEND is the broad system of support for children with special needs and disabilities. An EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) is a specific legal document within that system — issued by the local authority for children whose needs require statutory provision beyond mainstream school resources. Not every child with SEND has an EHCP.
Does every child with SEND need an EHCP?: No. Most children with SEND are supported through SEN support in school — the graduated assess-plan-do-review cycle funded from the school's notional SEN budget. EHCPs are for children whose needs cannot reasonably be met from those mainstream resources.
How is SEND changing under reform?: Proposed SEND reforms may introduce Individual Support Plans for all children with identified SEND and link future EHCPs to Specialist Provision Packages. These are proposals subject to legislation — the current EHCP framework still applies today.
Where do I start if I think my child needs more support?: Start by documenting your concerns, what school is providing, and what is not working. If SEN support has been tried and is insufficient, you can request an EHC needs assessment under the current process. Use our route checker to identify your next step.

Sources and further reading

GOV.UK — SEND reform: putting children and young people first (consultation) — Official government consultation on proposed SEND reforms
GOV.UK — SEND reform consultation (HTML version) — Full consultation document including ISP and Specialist Provision Package proposals
DfE Education Hub — What parents need to know about changes to the SEND system — Parent-facing explainer from the Department for Education
House of Commons Library — Schools White Paper 2026: SEND Reform (CBP-10550) — Independent parliamentary briefing on proposed reforms and transition timelines
GOV.UK — Children with special educational needs (current EHCP process) — Current statutory route for requesting an EHC needs assessment
SEND Code of Practice 2015 — Department for Education statutory guidance — Current law and guidance that still applies today

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.