I think we’ve all been waiting to see what the Government would propose in respect of the upcoming SEND reforms. So, when the notification popped up on my phone last Monday that the new Schools White Paper was live, I felt that familiar mix of hope and holding-my-breath. We’ve been told for years that the system is “broken.”
We know it’s adversarial.
We know it’s exhausted. Let’s be honest…so are we.
The vision laid out in Every Child Achieving and Thriving is ambitious. The white paper promises a shift from a “one-size-fits-all” model to a layered system of support. This support should then
starts the moment a need is identified. But as I read through the proposed shift from EHCPs to ISPs and the introduction of “Experts at Hand,” I found myself asking the same question you probably are:
Is this really going to be a bridge to better support, or just a ladder being pulled up?
The “New” Tiers of Support
The White Paper introduces a four-tier model:
- Universal: High-quality adaptive teaching for everyone.
- Targeted: Support for “common” needs, recorded in a new Individual Support Plan (ISP).
- Targeted Plus: Enhanced support involving the new “Experts at Hand” service.
- Specialist: Reserved for the most complex needs, underpinned by a reformed EHCP.
The Individual Support Plan (ISP): Empowerment or Dilution?
The most significant change put forward in these SEND reforms will, for many, be the introduction of the digital Individual Support Plan (ISP). The government’s “pro” here is clear. Every child with SEN will now have a legal right to a document that records their day-to-day provision. You won’t need a diagnosis or a 20-week assessment to trigger it.
The Optimistic View: In theory, this ends the “wait and see” culture. If your child is struggling with literacy or sensory regulation, the school must create an ISP. The new system will be digital, transparent, and parents are supposed to be co-authors.
The Concern (The Enforceability Gap): Here is where I get nervous. Currently, an EHCP is a “Section F” powerhouse. If it says 15 hours of 1-to-1, the Local Authority (LA) must provide it. The White Paper describes the ISP as a “flexible record of day-to-day provision.” ‘Flexible’ is a very scary word in SEND law.
But whjat happens if an ISP isn’t backed by the same statutory weight as an EHCP. When a school says, “We tried the sensory break, but we didn’t have the staff today”? Under the current system, we have a clear legal hook. Under an ISP, the White Paper points toward “independent complaint panels” rather than the Tribunal.
Critical Analysis: We must ensure the ISP isn’t just a rebranded SEN Support Plan. We don’t need a fancy, but ultimately, worthless digital interface. We need these documents to have teeth.
“Experts at Hand”: Will the Cavalry Actually Arrive?
The government is putting £1.8 billion into a service called “Experts at Hand.” The idea is that LAs and Health Boards will pool a “bank” of Educational Psychologists (EPs), Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), and OTs. Schools will then be able to “draw down” from.
The Optimistic View: The “postcode lottery” of therapy is real. I’ve worked with families in some areas where the wait for an EP is two years, while the next town over is six months. A national standard for these “banks” could, in theory, level the playing field.
The Concern: Where are these experts coming from? We are currently in a national shortage of EPs and SLTs. You can’t just “fund” people into existence. I worry that “Experts at Hand” will become another gatekeeping mechanism—where schools are told to “consult the bank” instead of the child getting the dedicated, long-term 1-to-1 therapy they actually need. It’s one thing to enact such SEND reforms, but you have to be able to implement and support them with the necessary, qualified people.
The “Triple Lock” – How Robust is the Guarantee?
For those of us with children already holding an EHCP, the “Triple Lock” is the government’s attempt to calm the waters. They’ve promised:
- No child loses support during the transition.
- Existing EHCPs remain valid until at least 2030 (unless you move key stages).
- Special school places are “banked” and protected.
We need to watch the “September 2029” date very closely. That is when the new needs assessments begin. If your child is younger, you aren’t just entering a new system; you are the “test cohort.”
Ending the Postcode Lottery: A National Standard?
The White Paper talks extensively about National Inclusion Standards. The goal is that a child with Autism in Cornwall should get the same baseline of support as a child in Newcastle.
The Optimistic View: This is what we’ve been shouting for! The variation in “Ordinarily Available Provision” (OAP) across England is a scandal. Standardizing this could stop LAs from making up their own rules about when they “choose” to assess.
The Concern: “National Standards” can often become a “National Ceiling” rather than a “National Floor.” If the standard for a specific need is set lower than what your child currently gets, will LAs use these standards to “level down”?
What Happens Next? (And how you can help)
The government is currently in a 12-week consultation period (closing May 2026). They are asking for our views, but if you look at the consultation document, they aren’t asking if we want ISPs—they are asking how they should work.
My Take: We cannot let the “enforceability” of our children’s rights be traded for “digital convenience.”
A Simple Action You Can Take Today:
Respond to the Consultation: The good news is that these SEND reforms are still in the consultation phase. We have until 11:59pm on 18 May 2026 to ensure that the voices of disenfranchised parents is heard.
Don’t let the technical language put you off. Even if you only answer the questions about Individual Support Plans and the “Experts at Hand” offer, your voice as a parent is the most “authoritative” one in the room. You can find the link on the Gov.uk website under “SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First.” You can also click on this link.
And, of course, if you need any support on this, or any other SEN related issue, I’m here to help. You can book a free initial consultation here to find out how we can work together to make family life easier, together.